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THE

HIST O R Y

O F

T O M J O N E S,

( F d U N D L I N a

By HENRY FIELDIN G, Esquire,

-Mores hoiJilnmii mulibrum vidit-

IN THREE VOLUMES.

VOLUME L

PAISLEY: ^

Printed nnd fold by Alex. Weir, Bookfeller, mdcclxxt.

...:.^ ih

To THE Honourable

GEORGELYTTLETON, Esq;

Oacr of the Lord s Commissioh£KS of

the TREASURVr

NOTWITHSTANDING your conftantTcfufal, when
i have alked leave to prefix your name to this
dedication, I mud flill infift on my right to dcfife
your proteftion of this work.

To you, Sir, it is owing that this hiftory was ever
begun. It was by your defire that I fird thought of
fuch a compofition. So many years have fincc paft,
that you may have, perhaps, forgotten this i:ircunir^
fiance : but your deQres are* to be in the nature of
-commands; and the imprelFion of them is never to
be crafed from my memory* '

Again, Sir, without your affiftance this- hiflory
. had never been completed. Be not ftartled at the
aflfertion. I do not intend to draw on you the ful-
pjcion of being a romance-writer. I mean no morc^
than that I partly owe to you my exiftence during giean
part- of the time which 1 have employed in compof-
hig it : another matter which it may b^ necollary
to remind you of, Cnce there are certain a£lion§ oi'
A 2;. ^ -

iv D E D I C A T I O N*

•which you are Jtpt to be extremely forgetful j but of
thefe I hope I fiiall always have a better memory
than yourfelf.

I/ASTLY, It is owing to you that the hiftory ap-
pears whvt It now is. If there be in^this work^ as j
fome have been pleafed to fay,^ a Wronger picture of j
n truly beni-volent mind than is to be found in any ;
other, who that knows you, and a particular acquain- j
ance of yours, will doiibt whence that benevolence
hath been copied ? Th^ world will not, 1 believe, ]
make me the compliment of thinking I took it from i
myfelf. I care not : this they fhall own, that the |
two perfons from whom I have taken it, that is to I
fay, two of the beft and worthiefl: men in the world,
are ftrongly and zealoully my friends. I might be
contented with this, and yet my vanity will add a
third to the number ; and him one of the great^ft
and nobkfl:, not only in his rank, but in every public
and private virtue. But here, whilfl my gratitude for
the pfcicely benefaflions of the Duke of Bedforj)
burflalfrom my heart, you muft forgive my reminding
you that it was you virho firll recommended me to the I
notice of my benefadlor. - . ;

And what are your objeftivons to the allowance of
the honour which I have folicited ? Why, you have
commended the book fo warmly, that you fliould
be ailiamed of reading your name before the dedicati-
on. Indeed, Sir, if the book itfelf doth not make
you afhamcd of your commendations, nothing that
I can here write, will, or ought. I am not to give
up my rights to your prote£lion and patronage, be-
cr=ufe you have commended m^ book: for though I
acknowledge fo many obligations to you, I do not
add thi^. to the number, in which friendflilp, I am
convinced, hath fo little fhare •, fmce that can nei-
ther- biafs your juelgment, nor prevent your integrity.

dedication; 7

Jin enemy may at any time obtain your commenda-
tion by only deferving it; and the utmoft which
the faults of your friends can hope for^ is your fi-
lence 5 or, perhaps, if too feverely accufed, your
gentle palliation.

In fliort. Sir, I fufpcft that your dillike of public
praif<5 is your true objeftion to granting my requeft.
I have obferved, that you have, in common with
my two other friends, an unwillingncfi^ to hear the
lead mention of your own virtues : that, as a great
Poet fays of onp of you, (he might jufljy have faid
k of all three), you

Dagood byjiealth^ and hlujb U find itfamem

\^ nc^en of this difpofition arc as careful to fliun
applaufe, as others are to efcape cenfurq, how juft
muft be your apprehenfioii of your charaftcr falling
into my hands; fince what would not a man have
reafon to dread, if attacked by an author who had
received from him injuries equal to my obligationa
to you S-

And will not this dread of cenfure increafe in
proportion to the matter which a man is confcioug
of having afforded for. it ? If his whole life, for in-
ftance, fhould have been one continued fubjeift of
fatire, he may well tremble whsa an incenfed fa-
tirift takes him in band. Now, oir, if we apply this
to your modeit averfion to panegyric,^ how reafonabie
■will your fears of me appear !

'Yet furely you might have gratified my ambi-
tion, from this fmgle confidence, that I Ihair always
prefer the indulgence ct your inclinations to the la-
tisfaftion of my own. A very ftrong inflance cf
isrhich I fliall give you in this addrcfe •> ia vtbida. i

'^i D E I> I C it^TIO N.

am (determined to follow th^'|^|:|n'p1e of all otber dir--
dicatbrs, and will conlider' rc^ 'Avhat my patron re-
ally deserves to liave writteh, but what he will be beft
pleafed to read.. t v 2 i» ,-

Without further pre^ce, then, I here prefent
^'oii* with the- labours 'ot fome '^)'ears 'of my life.
"V/hat merit thefs laibburs -iiav^/ fat already' known
to yoiirfelf. If, from youf. ftvcAirabfe judgment, 5
'have conceived fdme efteem- for them|*' -it cannot be
imputed to vaoity : fince I iHo'tilci ha9e/a|;reed as im-
plicitly to yonrx)piaion, hi^dt It Uceii given in favour of
any other- man's prod ufticm. N^givtively^ -at leaft,.
I maybe allgw^d tcr^fi^y,, that .had 1 been fenfible of
any great demenf lit 4be*t(r?!>r<sS you -afethe lafl: per-
fon to whofe protc£lion I would hiive ventured to re--
cornnviehd 4t* > -": "v: ; ' ' ■ ]'j ^'.: ;

From the najine :oif^my patron, iml«ed, I hope
my reader will i be oofivhiced, 5t»his"very entrance
on this work, l-ha^^h^/will find in the whole couif;
of it notlvin^ ipft5uiii<:jai;tiji 'the 4:aure of religion and
virtue; nothing inconfiftenc with the ftricleft rules
of decency, nor which can oHend even the chafteft ,
eye in the pertifal.) "On the con'rrary, I declare, that
to recommend [!;ofidneis and innocence, hath been
my fmccre enileavowr. in this, hill;ory. This honeft
paipofc. you have been pleafed to think I have at-
tained ; and to fay the t^uth, it is likliefi: to be at-
tained in books of this kind : for an example is a kind
of picture, in vyhioh virtue becomes, as it were an '
obje£"t*of fight, and llrikes us with an idea of that
lovclinefs which Plato afTcrts there is in her naked
charms.

IjEstdes dif^-^Iaylng that beauty of virtue which
may attr?(Lt the achniration of mankind, I have at-
tempted to engage a flrongcr motive to human ac-
tJonlii Jjcr fdvour^ by convincing men that their tm5

D E D IG A T! Oi^. ' ^li

^hterefl: direfts them to a purfuit of her. !For this
purpofe Ihave (hewn, that no acquilitions of guilt can
compenfate the lofs of that fo lid inward comfort of
mind, which is the fure companion of innocence and
virtue ; nor can in the lead balatice the evil of that
horror and anxiety which, in their room, guilt intro-
duces into our bofoms. And again, that as thefe ac-
quifitions are in themfelves generally worthlefs, fo are
the means to attain them not only bafe and infamous,
but at beft uncertain, and always full of danger.. Laft-
ly, I have endeavoured ftrongly to inculcate, that vir-
tue and innocence can fcarce ever be injured but by
indifcretion ; and that it is this alone which often be-
trays them into the fnares that deceit and villainy
fpread for them ; a moral which I have the more in-
duftrioufly kboured, as the teaching it is, of all others,
the likelieft to be attended with fuccefs ; fince I believe,
it is much eafier to make good men wife, than to make
bad men good.

For ^hefe purpofes I have employed all the wit and
Rumour of which I am maflcr in the following hiftory ;
wherein I have endeavoured to laugh mankind out of
their favourite follies and vices. How far I have fuc-
ceedcd in this good attempt, I fliall fubmit to the can-
did reader, with only two requefts : Firft, That he
will not expedl to find perfection in this work ; and.
Secondly, That he will excufe fome parts of it, if they
fall (hort of that little merit which 1 hope may appear
in others.

I wiiL detain you, Sir, no longer. Indeea I have
run into a preface, while I profeflTed to write a dedi-
. c^ti9n^. .But how can it be otherwife ? I dare not
prjiife )ou ; and the only means I know of to avoid
it,: when you are in my thoughts, are either to be
entirely filexit, or. to turn my thoughts to fonae other
jSibjecl.

Viii D E D I C A T I O N.

Pardon, therefore, what I have faid in this eJ-
piftle, not only without your confent, but abfoluteiy
againft it ; and give me at lead leave, in this public
manner^ to. declare, tb^it I am,, with the higheft re«
fpeft and gratitude,

S I R,

Tour mofl: obliged,
ebedient humble Scrvanfy

HENRY FIELDlNGv

CONTENTS

OF THE

FIRST VOLUME.

BOOK I.

Containing as much of the birih of the Foundling
as is neceffary or proper to acquaint the reader
with in the beginning of this hiftory.

Chap. I. The introduftion to the work, or bill of fare
to the feaft, ^ Page i

Chap II. Aihortdefcription of Squire Allworthy, and
a fuller account of Mifs Bridget Allworthy, his
fifter, ^ 3

Chap. III. An odd accident which befel Mr Allworthy
at his return home. The decent behaviour of Mrs
Deborah Wilkins ; with fome proper ammadverfi-
^ns on baftards, 5;

Chap. IV. The reader's neck brought into danger by
a dcfcription ; his efcape, and the great cotidefcen-
fion of Mifs Bridget Allworthy, 9

Chap* V. Containing a few commoTVT\\'aX\fc\As'^'^>
very ancommoii obfervatiou u^owOc^^vcv^ ^'>.

X CONTENTS. \

Chap. VI. Mrs Deborah is introduced into the pariftis
with a fmile. A fhort account of Jenny Jones, with
the difficulties and difcouragtments which may at-
tend young women in the purfuit of learning, 13

Chap. VU. Containing fuch grave matter, that the
reader caiMiot laugh once through the whole chapter^
unlefs peradventure he Ihould laugh at the author, 17

Chap VIII. A dialogue between Mefdames Bridget
and Deborah ; containing more amufement) but lefs

..iliflruftion, than the former, 22

Chap. IX. Containing matters which will furprife the
reader, 24

Chap. X. The hofpltality of Allworthy ; with a (hort
ikctch of the chara£lers of two brothers, a doftor and
a captain, who were entertained by that gentle-
man, 27

Chap. XI. Containing many rules, and fome examples,
concerning falling in love : defcriptions of beauty,
and other more prudential inducements to matrlt*
mony, 31

Chap. XII. Containing what the reader may perhaps
expeft to find in it, 35

Chap. XIII Which concludes the firfl book ; with an
inftance of ingratitude, which, we hope will appear
unnatural, ' 38'

BOOK IL

Containing fcencs of matrimonial felicity in diffe-
rent degrees of life ; and various other tran-
faftions, during the firft two years after the
marriage between Captain Blifil and Mifs Brid-
get Allworthy,

Chap. I. Shewing what kind of a hiflory this is 5

what is like, and what is not like, 42

Chap. II. Religious cautions agalnft (lie wing too

much favour to baftards \ and a great difcovery

made by Mrs Dcborch Wilkiivs, ^,6,

r CONTENTS. xi

ChA^. in. The defcription of a dondellic govcrtiment,
founded upon rules dire£ily contrary to thofe of A-
j-iftotle, 46

Chap. IV. Containing one of the moft bloody bat-
tles, or rather duels, that were ever recorded in do-
meftic hiftory, 50

Chap. V. Containing much matter to exercife tho
judgment and reflexion of the reader, , 55

Chap. VI. The trial of Partridge the fchoolmafter, for
incontinency ; the evidence of his wife ; a fhort re-*
fleftion on the wifdom of our law ; with other g^ay^
' matters, which thofe will like beft who underft&nd
[ them moft, 60

^ jChap. VII. A fhort iketch of that felicity which pru-

Ident couples may extraft from hatred ; with a fiiott
apology for thofe people who overlook imperfe£tion
in their friends. 66

Chap. Vlll. A receipt to regain the loft affeftions of
of a wife, which hath never been known to fail in
the moft defperate cafes, ji

^Chap. IX. A proof of the infallibility of the forego-
ing receipt, in the lamentation of the widows witk
other fuitable decorations of death, fiich as.phyfici.
.ans, &c. and an epitaph in the true ftile, 7:1

BOOK III.

jContaining the moft memorable tranfaftions which
paffed in the family of Mr. Allworthy, from
the time when Tommy Jolies arrived at the
age of fourteen, till he attained the age of
nineteen. In this book the reader may pick
tip fome hints concerning the education of
children.

Chap. I. 'Containing little or nothing, 78

jQl^AP, IL The hero of this great hiftory appears with
^'imy bad omens. A littku\t oHov*^^ -^NLv^A^

%n CONTENTS. *

• -^

that fome think it not worth their notice. A word .
or two concerning a fquirc, and more relating to a ,
gamekeeper and a fchooiniafter, 80

Chap. 111. rhe charafter of Mr Square the philofb-
pher, and of Mr Thwackhum the divine 5 with a
difpute concerning 86

Chap. iV. Containing a neccflary apology (or the au-
thor ; and a childifh incident, which perhaps re-
quires an apology likewife, 88

Chap. V. The opinions of the divine and the philofo-
pher concerning the two boys ; with fome rjeafons
for their opinions ; and other matters, 91

Chap. VI. Containing a better reafon flill for the be-
fore-mentioned opinions, 96

Chap. VII. In which the author hi mfelf makes his
appearan^ce on the ftage, 1 00

Chap. VIII. A childilh incident, in which, however,
is feen ?i good-natured difpofition in Torn Jones, 1 o^

Chap- IX. Containing an incident of a more henious
kind, with the comments of Thwackhum and Square,

104

Chaf. X In which Mr Blifil and Jones appear in
different lights, 107

B O O K ly.

Containing the time of a year. |

Chap. I. Containing four pages of paper, no |

Chap. II. A fhort hint of what we can do in the fub- I
lime, and a defcription of Mifs Sophia Weflern, 113

Chap. III. Wherein the hiftory goes biick to comme-
morate a trifling incident that happened Ibine years
fnice ; but which, trifling as it was, had fome future
confequences. 1 16 j

Chap. IV. Containing fuch very deep and grave j
matters, that fome readers, perhaps, may not relifli
it, 119 ,

Chap. V. Containing matter accommodated to every .;

CONTENTS. aim

Chap. VI. An apology for the mfenfibiHty of Mr
Jones to all the charms of the lovely Sophia ; in
which, poffibly, we may, in a conGdcrable degree,
lower his chara£ler in the eftimation of thofe men of
wit and gallantry who approve the heroes in moft of
our modern comedies, 1 28

Chap. VII. Being the fliorteft chapter in this book, 1 3Z

Chap. VIU. A battle fung by the mufe in the Home-
rican ftile, and which none but the claffical reader
can tafte, 133

Chap. IX. Containing matter of no very peaceable
colour, 139

Chap. X. A ftory told by Mr Supple, the curate.
The penetration of Squire Weftern., His great love
for his daughter, and the return to it made by her,

142.

Chap. XI. The narrow efcape of Molly Seagrim, with
feme obfervations for which we haix been forced to
dive pretty deep into nature, 146

Chap. XIL Containing much clearer matters; but
which ^ow from the fame fountain with thofe in the
preceding chapter, i^t

Chap Xlll. A dreadful accident which befel Sophia.
The gallant behaviour of Jones, and the more dread-
ful confequence of that behaviour to the young lady;
with a iliort digreflion in favour of the female fex»

'54
Chap. XIV. The arrival of a furgeon. His operati-
ons, and a long dialogue between Sophia and her
maid^- i^j

B o o K V.

L Containing a portion of time, fo^ewhat laager
than iialf a year. ,, *

:Chap. I. Of THE SERIOUS inwrUla(j;,^vxcl
for what purpofe it is introduceA^ v^\

Vm.. I. ]a

^^ ' CONTENTS.

Chap. II. In winch Mr Jones receives .many friendly
vifits during his confinement ; with foroe fine touches
of the paflion of love, fcarce vifible to the naked eye,

i68
HAP. III. Which all who have no heart, will think to
contain much ado about nothing, 1 73

Chap. IV. A little chapter, in which is contained a
. little incident, 176

Chap. V. Avery long chapter, containing a very great
incident, 179

Chap. VJ. By comparing which with the former, the
reader may poillbly corredl lome abufe which he hath
formerly been guilty of in the application of the
word Love. 187

Chap. VII. In which Mr All worthy appears on a
fickbed, 193

Chap. VIII. Containing matter rather natural than
pleafing, 198

^]^kaP. IX» Which, among other things; may ferve a
comment on that faying of-^fchines',that Druken-

NESS SHEWS THE MiND OF A MaN, AS A MlR-
llOR REFLECTS HIS PeRSON, 203

([^HAP, X. Shewing the truth of many obfervations of
:Ovid, and of other more grave writers, who have
proved, beyond contradi£lion, that wine is often the
fore-runner of in'continency. - 208

Chap. Xl. In which a fmile in Mr Pope's period of
a mile, introduces as bloody a battle as can poflibly
be fought without the affiftance of fleel or cold iron.

Chap. XII. In which is feen a more moving fpe£lacle |

than all the blood in the bodies of Tliwackham and j

Blifil, and of twenty other fuch, is' capable of pro- •]

jducing, 21 J V

BO OK VL 1

Containing about three weeks.
,Chap. L Of love, ' 220 ^

S^'hap. IL The charader of Mrs "VI tfe.xtv. "V^^^^ |^

C O N T E N T a. XV

learning and knowledge of the world, and an in-
ftance of the deep penetratiorv whicb (he derived
from thofc advantages, 223

Chap. III. Containing two defiances to the critic?,

229

Chap. IV. Containing fundry curious matters, 233

Chap. V. In which is related what palled between
Sophia and her aunt, 23-5

Chap. VI. Containing a dialogue between Sophia and
Mrs Honour, which may a little lelieve thole tender
afFe£lions which the foregoing fcene may have raiTed
in the ofiind of a good-natured reader, 240

Chap. VII. ApiQureof foi'mai courtflvip in minia-
ture, as it always ought to be drawn ; and a fcene
of a tenderer kind painted at full length, 243

Chap. VIII. The meeting between Jones and Sophia^

Chap. IX. Being of a much more tempefluous kind

than the former, * 250

Chap. X. In which Mr Wcftern vifits Mr Allwortliy^

254
Chap. XI. A fliort chapter ; but which contains fur-
ficient matters to afFedt: the ^ood-naturM reader, 259
Chap. XII. Containing love-letters, &c. 261

Chap. XllL The behaviour of Sophia on the prefent»
occaGon; which none of her fex will blame, who
are capable of behaving in the fame manner. And
the difcuflion of a knotty point in the court of confci-
cnce, 266

Chap. XIV. A fliort chapter, containing a (hort dia-
logue between Squire Weftern and his lifter, 27a
B »

■\

■ ^

THE

HISTORY

O F A

F O U N D L I N a

B O O K I.

Containing as much of tie birth of the Foundling as is
necejfary or proper to acquaint the reader luith in the
beginning of this hiftory. \

G H A P. I.

The introduction to the ivorky or hill of fare to the feafi.

AN author ought to confider himfelf, not as a gentle-
man who gives a private or cleemofynary treat, but .
rather as one who keeps a public ordinary, at
which all perfons are welcome for their money. In the
former cafe, it is well known that the entertainer pro-
-vides what fare he pleafes : and though this (hould be very
i indifferent, and utterly difagreeable to the tafte of his
company, they muft not find any fault ; nay, on the con-
trary, good breeding forces them outwardly to approve
and to commend whatever is fet before them. Now, the
coijftrary of this happ^is to the mailer of an ordinary.
Men who pay for what they eat, will in. ft on gratifying
their palates^ however nice and whimfical thefe may prove ;
and if every thing is not agreeable to their talle, jxil
challenge a right to cenfure, to abufe, and to d-^--»-ft t^|r
dinner without controul.

To prevent, therefore, giving offence to their cuftomcrs

by any fuch difappointment, it hath been ufual with the

honed and well-meaning hoft, to provide a bill of fare,

which all perfons may perufe at their firll, entrance into the

, iK^ufe ; and, having thence acquainted themfelves with the

The HISTORY of a Book I.

entertainment which they may expecl, may cither ftay and
regale with what is provided for them, or may depart to?
fomc other oidinary better acxommodated to their tafte.

As we do not difdain to borrow wit or wifdom from any
man who is capable of lending us either, wc have conde-
fcended to take a hint from thefe honell vidluallcrs, and
fhall prefix not only a general bill of fare ta our whole €B-
tertainment, but fhall likewife give the reader particiikr
bills to every courfe which is to be ferved up in ^his and
the enfuing volumes.

The provifion, then which we have here made is no o-
ther than Human Nature : nor do I fear that my fenli-
ble reader, though moft luxurious in his tafte, will ftart,
cavil, or be offended, becaufe I have named but one article;
The tortoife, as the alderman of Briftol, well learned in
eating, knows by much experience, beiides the delicious^
callVafh and calipee, contains many different kind* of food t
nor can the learned reader be ignorairt, that in human na-
ture, though here colledled under one general name, i»
fuch a prodigious variety, that a cook will have fooner
gone through , all the feveral fpecies of animal" and ve*
• getable food in the world, than an author will be able to
cxhauft fo extenfive a fubje<Etr «^

J^^ ol>je£lfon may, perhaps be apprehended from tK^
morie delicate, that this difh is too eommoir and vulgar j
for what elfe is the fubje6^ of all the romances, novels,
plays, and poems, with which the ilalls abound ? Many
cxquifite viands might be rejefted by the epicure, if it
•was a fufficient caufe fbr his contemning of them as com-
mon and vulgar, that fomcthiag was to be fbutid in Jthe
moft paltry alleys under the fame name In realty,
true NaCiire is as difficrolt ta be. met with in authofs, as^
the Bayonnc ham or Bologna faufage i» to be found in»
th^ fliops*

But the whole, to contmiic the lame metaphor, con£ftr
in the cookery of the author ; for, as Mr Pope tells us,

True *w/t is Nature to advantage drefs^dy

What oft nvaj ihoughty but rts*er fo 'well exfrefs^d.

ThefaTne animal which hath the Iionour totjave fome^
,pan;0his £c{h eaten at th6 table o'fa dukt, ^Vj. ^«i( J

thzf. 2. FOUNDLING. j

Lapa be degraded In another part, and fome of his limbi
''gibbetedy as it were, in the viJeft ftall in the town. Where
then lies the difference between the food of the nobleman
«nd the porter, if both are at dinner on the fjwie ox or
jcalf, but in the feafonin?, the drefling, the gtrnifhing^
and the fetting forth I Hence the one provoket^tid in-
cites the mofk languid appetite, and the other JrKas and
palls that which is the fharpeft and keeneft.

In like manner, the excellence of the mental^entertain-
«inent confifts lefs in the fub]e6^, than in the autlior's fkill in
.'vrell drefling it up. How pleafed, therefore, will the reader
be to find, that we have, in the following work, adhered
clofely to one of the higheft principles of the bcft cook
which the prefent age, or, perhaps, that of Heliogabalus,
hath produced ? This great man, as: is well known to all
lovers of polite eating, begin* at firft by fetting plain ^
things Hfere his hungry guefts, rifing afterwards b)§Hjft-
gre€s,-JBBieir ftomachs may be fuppc^ed to decreai^f to
tlie verp^pdnteffence offauce andfpiccs./ IhliMe manner^ ~
we (hall reprefent human nature at firft^to the keiri appe-
tite of our reader, in that more plain and iimplc manner in
which it is found in the coimtry ; and fliall hereafter hafh ,
and ragoo it with all the high French and Italian feafoning7
♦ of affectation and vice which courts and cities afFo¥d.^fty
thefe means, we doubt not but our reader may be reiOTfeei
defirousto read on fcr ever, as the gres^t perfon^ juft abott^^
^nentioned, is fuppofcd to have made fbme perfons eat. ; ^

Having prcmifed thuA' much, we will now detain thofe
who like our bill of farfc no longer from their diet, and ,
fhqir proceed directly to ferveupthe firft courfe of our hif*
tprf for their entertainments

C H'A R II.

J Jhort defcriptlon of Squire All'worthyy and a fuller ascomh
of Mifs Bridget All^rthy his Jifter.

IN that part of the wenern divifion of this kingdom^ '
which is commonly called Sc5Therfetfhire, there late-
Jy lived (anijS^erhaps, lives Hill) a gentleman whofe
name -was Allworthy, and who might well be called the
*^- * ''both Nature and i^Qxlurv^'i lox Vj^n^cl^ jp^

4| The H I S T O R Y of a Book 1

fcerh to have contended which fhould bleft and inndi Kin
cioft. In this contention. Nature may fecm to fome t<
have come off vidtorious, as flie beftowed on him mani

fifts ; while Fortune had only one gift in her power
ut in pouring forth this, fhe was fo very profufe, tha
others, ^^erhaps, may think this fingle endowment t<
have been more than equivalent to all the various bleffingi
which he enjoyed from Nature. From the former of thelc
he derived an agreeable perfon, a found conftitutiori, a fo
Jid underftanding, and a benevolent heart ; by the latter
Jbe was decreed to the inheritance of one of the largef
cftates in the county.

? This gentleman had, in his youth, married a very wor
thy and beautiful woman, of whom 'he had been ex
'tremely fond : by her he had three children, all of whon
*died in their infancy. He had likewife had the misfor
,tan% of burying this beloved wife herfelf, about*||re year
^^tefhre the time in which this hiftory chufes ^ <et out

^This lofs, however great, he bore like a man c^ fenfc an<
conftancy ; though it muft be confeffed, he would oftei
talk a little whirafically on this head ; for he fometime
laid, he looked on himfclf as ftill married, an#' confix
dered his wife as only gone a little before him a jqjarne)
whjiyi he ftiould moft certainly, fooner or latter, tak<
aft^nier ; and that he )iad not the leail doubt of meeting
her again, in a place where he fhould never part with hei
more. Sentiments for which his fenfe was arraigned^ b)
one part of his neighbours, his religion by a fecond,. anc]
his fmcerity by a third.

He now lived, for the moil part, retired in the coun-
try, with one lifter, for whom he had a very tender'af-
fe6lion. This lady was now fomewhat paft the age ol
thirty, an aera at wluch, in the opinion of the maliciouSj
the title of old maid may, with no impropriety, be af-
fumed. She was of that fpecics of women whom you
commend rather for good qaalitics than beauty, and who
are geaerally called by their pwn fex, very good foit oi
women— as good a fort of woman. Madam, as you would
wifh to know. Indeed (he was fo far from regretting

' tv^nt oi beauty, that fhe never mentionedtftMt perfection
{"/f It can be caiied one) without contempt ; and would

4^ftcEk^ank God (be was not as b^adigw.^ ^\^^ V^d\ «

bmc to

Gbp, 3. FOUNDLING. j

one, whom perhaps beauty had led into errors which fhc
might otherwile have avoided. Mifs Bridget Allworthy
(for that was the name of this lady) very rightly con-
ceived the charms of perfon in a woman to be no bettet
than fnares for herfelf, as well as for others ; and yet fo
difcreet ^as fhe in- her condudl, that her prudence was as
much on the guard, as if (he had all the fnares to appre-
hend which were ever laid for her whole fex. Indeed, I
have . obferved (^though it may feem unaccountable to tli^
reader) that this guard of prudence, like the trained
tands, is always readieft to go on duty where there is the
leaft danger. It often bafely and cowardly deferts thofe
paragons for whom the men are all wifliing, fighing, dyin^,
and i^reading every net in their pawer ; and conftantly
attends at the heels of that higher order of women, for
whom the other fex have a more distant and awful refpeft,
and whom (from defpair, I fuppofe, of fuccefs) they never
venture to attack. '

Reader, I think proper,- before we proceed any faHhcr
together, to acquaint thee, that I intend to digrefs, thro*
this whole hiftory, as often as I fee occafion ; of which I
tun myfelf a better judge than any pitiful critic whatever.
And here I muil defire all thofe critics to mind their own
buiinefs, and not to intermeddle wath afiiairs, or works^
which no ways concern them : for till they produce the
authority by which they are conftltuted judges, I (hall
not plead to their jurifdi(^ion.

CHAP. III.

j^n odd accident nvhich hefel Mr Allivortky at his return
home. The decent behaviour of Mrs Deborah Wilkinsy
'with feme proper animadverjions . on baflards,

I Have told my reader, in the pecfcding chapter, thai
Mr Allworthy inherited a large fortune ; that he had
a good heart, and no family. Hence, doubtlefs, it wil|*;^
^be concluded by many, that he lived like an homeft man^
owed no one a fliilling, took nothing but what was his*^ ^
own, kept a good houfe, entertained his neighbours with
Sl hearty welcome at his table, and was charitable toatJiQ
*f OQT'* 7« ^« t^Jth^fe who 1^ rather btg^an work, bj

'W>

6 The H I S T O R Y of a Boo

giving them the ofFals from U ; that he died immei
rich, and built an hofpital.

And true it is, that he did naany of thefe things ;
had he done nothing, more, I fhould have left hi r
have recorded his own merit on fome fair free-ftone
the door of that hofpital. Matters of a much mpre ej
ordinary kind are to be the fubje6l of this hiftory,
fhould grofsly mifpend my time in writing fo volumli
9 work 5 and you, my fagacious friend, nfight, with e
profit and pleafure, travel through fome pages, which
tarn droll authors have been facetioufly pleafed to call
Hijlory of England,

Mr Allworlhy had been abfent a full quarter of a
in London, on fome very particular 'bulinefs, thouj
know not what it was ; but judge of its importance.
Its having detained him fo long from home, whenc
had not been abfent ^ month at a time, during the f
of mapy years. He came to his houfe very late in
evening, and, after a fhort fupper with his fifter, rel
much fatigued to his chamber. Here, having fpent 1
minutes on his knees, a cuftom which he never b
through on any account, he was preparing to ftep
bed, when, upon opening the cloaths, to his great furp
he beheld an infant, wrapt up in fome coarfe linen,
fweet and profound deep, between bis fheets. He H
fome time loft in aftonifhment at this fight ; but, as ^
nature had always the afcendant in his mind, he foon
gan to be touched with fentiments of compaflion for
little wretch before him. He then rang his bell, and
dered an elderly woman fervant to rife immediately
come to him ; and in the mean time was fo earger in <
templating the beauty of innocence, appearing in t
lively colours with which infancy and flecp always dif]
It, that his thoughts were too much engaged to re
that he was ia his fliirt, when the matron came in.
had indeed given her mafter fuflicient time to drefs himi
for out of refpedl to him, and regard to decency, flie
fpent many minutes in adjafting her hair at the look
glafs, notwithftanding all the hurry in which (h^ had I
iujiinoned by the fervant, and though her mafterl
ight (he kQgj/7^ lay expirif^in *u a^oylex^i or ia f

cini, anc
pirii^ii

[ Chap. 3. FOUNDLING. . 7

, It will not be wondered at, that a crtaturc, who had
fo ftrIA a regard to decency in her own pcrfon, fhould
be (hocked at the leaft deviation from it in another. She
therefore no fooner opened the door, and faw her mailer
Handing by the bed-fide in his fbirt, with a candle in his
hand, than (he Itarted back in a moft terrible fright, and

I might perhaps have fvvooned away, had he not now re-
colieded his being undrefl, and put an end to her terrors,
by defiring her to (lay withiiut the door, till he had
thrown fome cloaths over his back, and was become in-
capable of fhocking the pure eyes of Mrs Deborah Wil-
kins, who, though in the Hfty-fecond year of her age,
vowed fhe had never beheld a man without his coat.
Sneercrs and profane vtrits may perhaps laugh at her
firft fright, yet, my graver reader, when he confidcrs
the time of night the fummons fr«;m her bed, and the
iituation in which fne found her matter, wall highly juftify
?ind applaud her conduft \ unlefk the prudence, which

'J ^ inuft be fuppofed to attend maidens at that period of life
at which Mrs Deborah had arrived, fhould a little lefTeo
liis admiration.

When Mrs Deborah returned into the room, and was
acquaiated by her mailer with the finding the little in-
fant, her conilernation was rather greater than his had
,;been ; nor could fne refrain from crying out, with great
horror of accent as well as look, * My good Sir ! what's
.to be done ?' Mr Allworthy anfwered, (he mull take
care of the child that evening, and in the morning he
would give orders to provide it a nurfc. * Yes, Sir,*
•fays (he, * and I hope your Worlhip wall fend out your

* warrant to take up the hulTy its mother, (for (he muft

* be one of the neighbourhood), and I fhould be glad tQ»
\* fee her committed to Bridewell, and whipt at the cart's

.^1* tail. Indeed fuch wicked fluts cannot be too feverely
' punifhed- I'll wanant 'tis not her iirfl, by her impu-
dence in laying it to your Worlhip.' * In laying it to
me ! Deborah,' anfwered Allv/orthy, * I can't think Ihe
hath any fuch defign. I fuppofe Ihc hath*>uly taken this
method to provide for her child; and truly I am glad
;Jt|(S; hath not done vrorfe.' * I don't know what Is w^orfe,*
*»^' 'ftB lu ah, * than for fuch v/icked daxvt^T^^t^ t<a Vi.^
ijnsal ■ *&c4;y:ft men's dooxo'> ^^^ N^'^ixx^ ^^'^ssi

af
I

by
h«
\a.
k

it!
4

3 The HI S T O R Y of a Book !>

* Worfhip knows your own innocence, yet the world iV

* cenforious ; and it hath been many an honeft man's hap

* to »pafs for the father of children he riever begot ; abd

* if your Worfliip (hould provide for the child, / it may

* make the people the apter to believe ; befides, why

* ihould your Worfhip provide for what the parifli is ob-

* liged to maintain ? For my own part, if it was an honeft

* man's child indeed ; but for my own part, it goes againft

* me to touch thefe mifbegotten wretches, whom I don't

* look upon as my fellow creatures. Faugh, how it

* ftinks J It doth not fmell like a Chriftian : If I might

* be fo bold to give my advice, I would have it put in a

* ba{l<et, and fent out and laid at the church-warden's

* door. It is a good night, only a little rainy and win-

* dy ; and if it was well wrapt up, and put in a warm .

* balket, it is two to one but it lives, till it is found in

* the morning. But if it (hould not, we have difcharged

* our duty in taking proper care of it, and it is, peihaps "

* better for fuch creatures to die in a Hate of innocence,

* than to grow up and imitate their mothers ; for nothing

* better can be expelled of them.'

. Ther^ was fome ftrokes in this fpeech which, perhaps,
would have offended Mr Allworthy, had he ilri6lly at-
tended to it ; ' but he had now got^ne of his fingers into *
the infant's hand, which, by its gentle prefTure, feeming to
implore his afliftance, had certainly out-pleaded the elo- '
qucnce of Mrs Deborah, had^ it been ten times greater
than it was. He now gave Mrs Deborah pofitlve or-
ders to take the child to her own bed, and to call up a
maid-fervant to provide it pap, and other things againfb
it waked. He iikewife ordered that proper cloaths
•fliould be procured for it early in the morning, and that
it fliould be brought to himfelf as foon as he was flirring.

Such was the difcernment of Mrs Wilkins, and fuch
tlie refpeft (he bore her mailer, under whom (he enjoyed *
a mod excellent place, that her fcruples gave v/ay to hi^
peremptory commands ; and (he took the child under h^r
aniis, without any apparent dilguft at the illegality of Ai^
birth ; and declaring it was a Iweet little infant, walked^
olT \v'ith it to her own chamber. ^m

Allworthy here betook himfelf to thpfe-f^MaHn^H^
Lers which a heart that hungers ^Ss^\ ^^oodti^^A k 3.v

/?..

FOUNDLING. 9

enjoy when thoroughJy fatlsfied : as thefe are poHibly
fv^eeter than what are occasioned by any other hearty meal,
I fliould' take more pains to difplay them to the reader,
if I knew any air to recommend him to for the procuring
fiich an appetite.

C H A P. IV.

7he reader*! neck brought into danger hy a defcriptlon ; hh
efcapey and tJTe great condefcenfton of M'tfs Bridget
Alinjjorthy,

TH E Gothic ftyle of building could produce nothings
nobler than Mr Allwortfiy's houfe. There was*
an air of -grandeur in it that Itruck you with awe, and
rivalled the beauties of the heft Grecian . archite6i:ure ;:
and it was as commodious jvithin, as venerable without.

It flood on the fouth-eafl fide of a hill, but nearer the
bottom than the top of it, fo as to be fheltcred from the
north-eaH by a grove of old oaks, which rofe above it in
a gradual afcent of near half a mile, and yet high enough,
to enjoy a raoft charjning profpedl of the valley beneath.

Fn the midd of the grove was a fine lawn, floping down
towards the houfe, near the fummit of which arofe a plen-
tiful fpring, gufiiing gut of a rock covered vvitk firs, and
forming^a conllant cafcade of about thirty feet, not car4'^it*
ried down a regular flight of fleps, biit tumbling in a ^r^
natural fall over the broken and mojfly ftoncs, till it came
to the bottom oif the rock ; then running off in a pebbly-
channel, that with many lefTer falls wfiided along, till, it
fell into a lake at the foot of the hill, about' a quarter of
a mile below the hoafc on the fouth-fide, and which was.
feen from every room in the front. Ont of this lak^
wliidl filled the centre of a beautiful plain, ernbs?lliflied
with groupes of beeches and elms, and fed with fheep^
iflucd a rivei", that, for feveral miles, v/as feen to mean-
der through an amazing variety of meadows and wdbds,
till it emptied it feif into the fea ; .with a large zrxry of
which^ and an ifland beyond it, the profpc6l was clgfed.

On the right of this valley opened another of>I^S ex-
. tiCnt^ adorned with feveral villages, and terminated by
, pnm'^f the towers of an old ruined abbay, grown over

'^Ito" I. ' c

10 The H I S T O R Y of a Book !•

with ivy, and part of the front, which remained ftill en-
tire^

The left hand fcene prefented the view of a very fine
park, compofed of very unequal ground, and agreeably
varied with all the diverHty that hills, lawns, wood, and
water, laid out with admirable tafte, but owing lefa to
art than to nature, could give. Beyond this the country
gradually rofe into a ridge of wild mountains, the tops of
which were above the clouds, •

It was now the middle of May, and the morning was
remarkably ferene, when Mr All worthy walked forth on
the terrace, where the dawn opened every minute that
lovely profpedl we have before defcribed to his eye. And
now having fent forth ilreams of light, which afcended
the blue firmament before him, as harbingers preceding
his pomp, in the full blaze of his majefty up rofe the
fun ; than which one objeA alone in this lower creation
could be more glorious, and that Mr Allworthy himfelf
prefented ; a human^ being replete with benevolence, me-
ditating in what m.anner he might render himfelf moll
acceptable to his Creator, by doing moft good to his
creatures.

Reader, take care : I have unadvifedly led thee to
the top of as high a hill as Mr AUwortliy's, and how to
get thee down without breaking thy neck, I do not well
know. • Plowever, let • us e'en venture to flide down to-
gether ; for Mifs Bridget rings her bell, and Mr Ail-
Vvorthy is fum.m*oned to breakfaft, where I muft attend,
and, if you pleafe,, (hall be glad of your company.

The ufual cornplinoents having pall between Mr All-
woi-thy and Mifs Bridget, and the tea being poured out,
^e fummoncd Mrs Wilkins, and told his filler he had a
prefent for her ; for which fhe thanked him, imagining,
I fuppofc, it had been a gown, or feme ornament for her
perfaii. Indeed, he very often made her fuch prefents ;
and fh^, in complacence to him, fpent much time in a-
dornlng herfclf : I fay, in complacence tc himj-becaufe
Ihe always cxprelfed the greateft contempt for drefs, aad
for thofe ladies who made it their 11 udy.

But if fuch was her expedlation, how was {he difap-
p^^/'/if^J, vrhcn Mrs Wilkin
Md received ii om hejr 'mailer

CIS, according to the ord2¥ ih^
ler, pYoduced ^-v,*.v\^ \^c^.jr^

l| Chap. 4. FOUNDLING. n

Great furprifes, as hatli been obfervcd, are apt to be li-
IvDt ; and fo was Mifs Bridget, till her brother began,
incl 2nd told her the whole ftory, which, as the nuder know&
)lyi It already, we fhall not repeat.

nd! Mifs Bridget had always exprefled fo great a regard
tol ft)r what the ladies are pleafed to call virtue, and had
rji hoffelf maintained fach a feverity of charader, that it
off was expecucd, efpecially by Wilklns, that (he would
I have vented inuch^ bitternefs on this, occafion, and would
IS I have voted for fending the child, as a kind of noxious
nl animal, immediately out of the houfe ; but, on the con-
tfc trary, Hie rather took the good-natured fide of the que-
ll ftion, intimated fome conxpalfion for the helplefs little
\t creature, and commended her brother's charity in what
I he had done.

I Perhaps the reader my account for this behaviour
from her condefccnfion to Mr All worthy, when we have
. iafbraied him, that the good man had ended his narra-
Itive with owning a refolution to take cit'e of the child,
and to breed him up as his own ; for, to acknowledge
the truth, flie was always ready to oblige her brother,
and very feldom, if ever, contradicted his fentifflients j
L. fte would indeed fometimes make a few obfervations,
[ as, that men werp headftrong, and mull have their owa
'■ way, and would wiih (he had been blell with an inde-
pendent fortune : but thefe were always vented in a low
voice, and at the moll, amounted only to what is called
muttering.

However, what (he with-held from the Infant, fhe be-
ftowed with the utmoft profufcnefs on tiie poor unknowa
mother, whom fhe called an impudent flat, a waaton
hufly, an audacious harlot, a wicked jade,, a vile ftnun-
pet, with every other appellation with which the tongue
of virtue never fails to lalh thofe who bring a dlfgrace
on the fex. ^

A confultation 'was now entered into, how to i^occed
in order to difcover the mother. A fcrutiny wa8|$rlt
jga?ide into the characters of the female fervants or tlie
houfei who were all acquitted by Mrs Wilkins, and witli
«(iparent merit; for fhe had coileded them herfelf ; and
^ mrbap3 It would be diSicult to fmd fuch another fct of

:^ C 2 ■

J2 The H I S T O R y of a . Book I.-

The next ftep was to examine aaiong the Inhahltants
4>f the parifh ; and this was referred to Mrs WJlkins,
who was to inquire with all imaginable diligence, and
to make her report in the afternoon.

Matters being thus fettled, Mr All worthy withdrew
to his ftudy, as was his cullom, and left the child ,to his
iiflcr, who at bis defire, had undertaken the care^ of it.

CHAP. V.

Containing a Jl^w co7nmon matters^ nviih a very uncommon
ohfervati&n upon them,

'HEN hermaflcr was departed, Mrs Deborah Hood
filcnt, expeding her cue fi-om Mifs Bridget ; for
as to what had pafTed before her mafter, the prudent
hciifekeepcr by no means relied upon it, as fhe had often
Jknov.n the fentiments of the lady,. in her brother's ab-
fence, to differ greatly from thofe which ihe had expreff-
ed in his prefence. Mifs Bridget did not, however,
fuffcr her to continue long in this doubtful fituation 5 for
hating looked f >metime earnellly at the child, as it lay
aileep in the lap of Mrs Deborah, the good lady could
3iot forbear giving it a hearty kifs, at the fame* time de-
claring herlelf wonderfully pleafed with its beauty and
innocence. Mrs Deborah no fooner obfcrved this, than
:flie fell to fqueezing and kiffing, with as great raptures
as fometimes infpire the fage dame of forty and five to-
-wards a youthful and vigorous bridegroom, a*ying out
in a fhrill voice, • O the dear little creature, the dear,
^ fweet, pretty creature ! Well, I vow it is as fine a boy
* as ever was fcen !'

Thefe exclamations continued, till they were inter- .
rupted by the lady, who now proceeded to execute the
'"^'^milllon given her by her brother, and gave orders
^^flt»iding all neceffaries for the child, appointing a
^ery good room in the houfe for his nurfery. Kcr or-
ders were .indeed fo liberal, that, had it been a child of
her own, fhe could not have exceeded them ; but, lead
the virtuous reader ,may condemn her for fiiewiag too
great regard to a bafe-born infant, to which all charity
•is condemned by a law as irreligious, we think proper to ^^
obfcrve^ thatHhc concluded tl\«: wVioV^ vjvOft. (a^jm^^ia^ t

©i^.& FOUNDLING. i$

It was her broiler's wliim to adopt the little brat, fhe fup-

pofed Kttle mafler mufl: be .treated with great tendernefs :

indt % ^^^ pa^tj ^^e could not help thiuking-it was an encou-

1 ragement to vice ; but that flic kne\iitoo much of the obfti-

f ^ r nacy of mankind to oppofe any of thwF ridiculous humours.

b'J With reflcdtions of this nature fhe ufually, as has been

I tinted, accompanied every aft of compliance with her bro-

I tiler's inclinations ; and furely nothing could more contri-

I bute to heighten the merit of this compliance, thaii a de-

I claration that fhe knew, at the fame time, the folly and un-

'^1 Veafonablenefs of thofe inclinations to which fhe fubmltted.

Tacit obedience implies no force upon the will, and con-

fequeritly, may be eafily, *and without any pains, preferv.

ed ; but when a wife, a child, a relation, or a friend^

performs what we defire, \Vith grumbling and reluftance,,

with expreflions of diflike arid diflatisfadlioit, the mani-

fd&, difficulty which they undergo,, mull greatly enhance

ti^e obligation.

^ As this is one of thofe deep obfervatibns which very fe\r
readers can be fuppofedT capable of making themfelves, I
have thought proper to lead them my afliltance ; but this.
18 a favour rarely to be expefted in the courfe ofmy work.
Indeed, .1 fhall feldom or never fo indulge him, unlefs ia
fuch inftances as this, where nothing but the infpiration
with which we writers are gifted, can pollibly enable any
one to make the difcovery. ^^ .

C H A K VL :

. Mrs Dehorah is introduced into theparijh^ imth a fimile. A
Jhort account of jfenny Jones i ^ith the- difficulties and dif-.
couragements luhich may attendyoung^omen m the purfuit
oflearning,

MRS'Deborah, having difpofed of the child according
to the will of her mafler, now prepired to viilt thole
liiabitajtions which were fuppofedto conceal its motiier.

• Not otherwife than when a kite, a" tremendous bird^
la beheld by the feathered generation fbaring aloft, and
Jtiovoing over their heads ; the amorous dove, and every
iaipceat little bird, fpread wide the alarm, and fly trein*-

14 The H I S T O R Y of a B^Dok L.

Wing to their hidmg-places. He proudly beats the air,
confcious of his dignity, and meditates intended mifchief.

So when the approach of Mrs Deborah was proclaimed
through the flreet, all fte inhabitants ran trembling into
their houfes, each matron dreacUng leaft the viiit fhotiidfail .
to her lot. She with ilately fteps proudly advances over
the field, aloft fhe bears her , towering head, filled with j
conceit of her own pre-eminence, and fchemes to effedl 1
lier intended difcovery.

The fagacious reader will not, from this fimile, imagine .
thefe poor people had any apprehenfion of the defign with
which Mrs Wilkins was now coming towards them ; but
as the great beauty of the fimile may poflibly deep thefe
hundred years, till fome future commentator fliall take this
work in hand, I think proper to lend the reader a little af-
iiftance in this place.

It is my intention, therefore to frgnify, that, as it is the
nature of a kite to devour little bird^, fo is it the nature o^
fuch perfons as Mrs Wilkins to infult and tyranize over
little people. This being indeed the means which they ufe
to recompenfe to themlelves their extreme ' fervility and
, condefcenfion to their fuperiors ;^ for nothing can be more ■'
reafonable than that flaves and flatterers fhould exad the
fame taxes on all below them, which they themfelves pay-
to all above th«m.

Whenever Mrs Deborah had occafion to exert any ex-
traordinary condefcenfion to Mrs Bridget, and by that
means had a little foUred her natural difpofition, it was u-
fual with her to walk forth among thefe people, in order
. to Vefine her temper, by venting, and as it were, purging
off all<i!l humours ; on which account flie was by no means
a velcome vifitant : to fay the truth, fhe was univerially
dreaded and hated by them all.

On her arrival in this place, {he went immediately to
the habitation of an dderly matron ; to whom, as this
matron had the good fortune to refemble herfelf in the
comllncfs of her perfon, as well as in her age, fheliad
generally been more favourable than to any of the reft.
To thiG \voman fhe imported what had happened,^ and the :
dffign upon which fhe was come thither that mofn- jj
/;,?•. Thefe two began pi'efently to fcrutinize the cha- ^j
rasters of the feveral young givU w\\o \\^^^ V\x ^^%^^5j

1. 1 ehap. & FOUNDLING. i>

ir, I t^afe hoafeS) and at bft fixed their ftrongcft fu^icion on

IOBC Jenny Jones, who, they both agreed, was the likeh'cft
perfon to have committed this fa6^.
This Jenny Jones was no very comely girl, either in
iii I her face or perfon : but Nature had fomewhat compenfat-
er I cd the want of beauty, with what is generally more e-
i I ftecmed by thofe ladies whofe judgment is arrived at years
^ f of perfe6t maturity ; for (he had given her ar very uncom-

Injon fhare of undcrftanding. This gift Jenny had a good
deal improved by erudition. She had lived leveral years
a fervant ijirith a fchodmafter, who difcovering a great
quicknefs of parts in the girl, and an extraordinary defire
of learning, (for every leifure hour (he was always found'
reading in the books of the fcholars), had the good-nature,
or folly (juft as the reader pleafes to call it) to inftru6l her
fo far, that fhe obtained a competent fkill in the Latin
language, and was perhaps as good a fchol^fr as moft of
tl^ young men of quality of the age. This advantage,
however. Tike moft oiiers of an extraordinary kind, was
attended with fome fmall inconveniencies : . for as it is not
to be wondered at, that a young woman fo well accom-
pKfhed, fhould have little relifh for the fociety of thofe
whom fortune had made her equals, but whom education
had i-cndered fo nuiich her inferi<)r3 ; fo is it matter of no
great aftoniihnient, that this fiiperiority in Jenny, toge- *
ther with that behaviour which is its certain confequence,
fhould produce among the reft fome little envy and ill will
towards her; and thofe had, perhaps, fecrctly burnt in
the bbfoms of her neighbours, ever fince her return from
her fei*vice.

Their envy did not, hjpwever, difplay itfclf openly, till
poor Jenny, to the furprife of every body, and to the Vexa-
tion of all the young women in thefe parts, had publicly
fhone forth on a Sunday in a new filk gown, with a laced
cap, and other appendages to thefe.

The flame, v*-hich had before lain in embryo, now
burft forth. Jenny ]:iBd, by her learning, inereafed her
own' pride, whidi none of her neighbours were kind e-
.nouTOtofeed with the honouu flie feemed to demand;
andVftow, inftead of refpe6l and adoration, fhe gained no-
thi^ t. 'but ' hatred and abufe by her finery. The whole
lli?d«ired /he could not com^ V^xv^^^ \i^ ^Ool

i6 The H I S T O R Y of a Book I^

things J 'sthd parents^ inftead of wifhing their daughter'^,
the iarne^ felicitated themfdves that their children liad
them not.

Hence perhaps it was, that the good woman firft men-
tioned the name of this poor girl to Mrs Wilkins ; but
there was another circumftance that coniirmed the latter
in her fufpieion : for Jenny had lately been often at Mr
Allworthy's houfe. She had ofRciated as nurfe to Mifs
Bridget in a. violent fit of illnefs, and had fat up many
nights with that lady ; befides which, (he had been feen-
there the very day before Mr AJlworthy's return, by'
Mrs Wilkins herfel^i though that fagacious. perfon had
not at firft conceived any fufpieion of her on that account ;
, for, as (he herfelf faid, She had always efteemed Jenny as ,
a very fober girl, (though .indeed fhe knew very little of 1
her), and had rather fufpeded fome of thofe wantons-
trollops, who^ave themfelves airs, becaufe„ forfboth, they
thought themfelves handfome# ,

Jenny was notv fummoned to appear in perfon before
Mrs Deborah, which fhe immediately did. When Mrs^
Deborah, putting on the gravity of a judge, with fome-
what more than his aufterlty, began an oration wit,h the
wprds, * You audacious flrumpet,' in which ihe pro-
ceeded rather to pafs fentcnce on the prifoner tlian to
accufe her.

Though Mrs Deborah was fully fatfsfied of the guilt
of Jenny, from the reafons above ftiewn, it is pofiible
Mir Allworthy might have required fome ftronger evi-.
dcnce to have convidled her ; but flic faved her accnfers
any fach trouble, by freely confefTing the whole fa£l with
which fhe was charged.

This confeflion, though delivered ra htr In terms of
contrition, as it appeared, did not at all n-jiViiy Mrs De-
borah, who now pronour^c: d a. f cjnd judgment againfh
her, in more approbrious language' than Lcfore : nor had ,
it- any better fuccefs with' the by-ftapders, who v/ere now
grown very numerous. Many of tliem cried out. They
thought what Madam's. ^]^ govin wd|i!d .end in ; others |
fpoke farcafticaliy of hec learning. Not a fnigle female j
was prefent, but found f<imc-,^eans of\xprcriing lier ab-
horrence of poor Jenny ^ -^o bore all' very patiently,
except the xnaiice of one woxnanj \i:ho tdledkd ugqa he# *■'

Cbp. 7 FOUNDLING. 17

ptrfon, and, tofling up her nofe faid, * Tlie man muft

* have a good ftomach, who would give filk gowns for

* fuch fort of trumpery.' Jenny replied to this, with a
bitternefs which might have furprifed a judicious perfon,
who had obferved the tranquillity with which fhe bore
all the affronts to her chaftity ; but her patience was per-
haps tired out ; for this is a virtue which is very apt to
be fatigued by exercife.

Mrs Deborah having fucceeded beyond her hopes in
her inquiry,^ returned with much triumph, and at the
appointed hour mad^ a faithful report to Mr Allworthy,
who was much furprifed at the relation ; for he had
heard of the extraordinary parts and improvements of
this girl, whom he intended to have given in marriage,
together with a fmall living, to a neighbouring curate.
His concern therefore, on this occafion, was at leaft e-
qtal to the fatisfadlion which appeared in Mrs Deborah,
and to many readers may feem much more reafonable.

Mrs Bridget bleffed herfelf, and faid, For her part,
fhe (hould never hereafter entertain a good opinion of any
woman. For Jenny before this had the happinefs of be-
ing much in her good graces alfo.

The prudent ioufekeeper was ae;ain difpatchedto bring
the unhappy cujprit befcre Mr Allworthy, inf order not,
y it was hope4*l)y fome, and expe<Slcd by all, to be
lent to the hou$ of correction ; but to receive whole-
fome admonitiofW and reproof, which thofe who relifh
that kind of inftru6tive writing may perufe in the next
chapter.

CHAP. VIL

CGntaininj fu:h grave viatter^ that the reader cannot laugh
once through the nvhole chapter^ unlefs peradventure he
fhould lauzh at the author*

WHEN Jenny appeared, Mr Allworthy took her
into his ftudy, and fpoke to her as follows :
* You know, child, it is in my power, as a magi-
« ftrate, to punifh you very rigoroufly for what you have
« done ; and you will, perhaps, be the more apt to fear
• I, .-fhould execute that power, becaufe you have, in a
^Jin^toier, laid your fins at my door.

j8 ' The H I S T O R Y of a Book I.

* But perhaps this is one reafon which hath determin-

* ed me to ad: in a milder manner with you ; for as

* no private refentment fliould ever influence a magiltrate,

* I will be fo far from confidering your having dcpolited

* the infant in my,houfe, as an aggi-avation of your of^

* fence, that I will fuppofe, in your favour, this to have

* proceeded from a natural affedipn to your child ; fmce

* you might have fome hopes to fee it thus better pro-

* vided for, than was in the power of yourfelf, or its wic-
^ ked father, to provide for it. I fhould indeed have been

* highly offended with you, had you expofed the little

* wretch in the manner of fome inhuman mothers, who

* feem no lefs to have abandoned their humanity, than to

* have parted witb their challity. It is the other part

* of your offence, therefore, upon which I intend to ad*

* moniih you, I mean the violation of your challity : a

* crim.e, however lightly it may be treated by debauoh-'

* ed perfons, very heinous in itfelf, and very dreadful in

* its confequences. ,

* The heinous nature of this offence muft be fufficient*

* ly apparent to every Chriflian, inafmuch as it is com-^
' mitted^n^Ii^'cr%f tlie hm^^ef e««Mr€ligi©jv^n4 of

< the expreCs commands of him who fo^j^idcd that rcli-

* gion.

* And here its confequences may wcMibe argued to be

* dreadful; for what can be mere fo,^than to incur the

* divine difpleafui'e, by the breach o£ the divine com-

* mands, ; and that in an inliance, againft which the

* higheft vengeance is fpecifically denounced ?

* But thefe things, though too. little, I am afraid, re-

< garded, are fo plain, that mankind, however they may

* want to be reminded, can never need information oa

* this head. A hint, therefore, to awaken your fenfe

* of this matter, fhall fuflice ; for I would infpire you

* w4th repentance, and not drive you to defperation.

* There are other confequences, not indeed fo dread-

* ful, or replete with horror, as this, and yet fuch as,

* if attentively confidered, muft, one would think, de-

* ter^l of your fex, at Icaft, from the commiffioh of thi»

* crifte.

* For by it you are rendered infamous, and driven
^ Ji'ke kpers of old, out of foclety •, ^t kad from

'^^t C3iap. 7. FOUNDLING. 19

* focfety of all but wjcked and reprobate perfons ; for no

* others will aflbciate with you.
^ If you have fortunes, you are hereby rendered inca*

* pable of enjoying them ; if you have none, you are
^ difabled from acquiring any, nay almoft of procuring

* your fuftenance ; for no perfons of charaftcr will re-

* ceive you into ther houfes. Thus you are often dri-

* ven by necefllty itfelf into a ftate of (hame and mifery,

* which unavoidably ends in the deftrudlion of both body

* and foul.

* Can any pleafure compenfate thefe evils ? Can any

* temptation have fophiftry and delufion ftrong enough

* to perfuade you to fo fimple a bargain ? Or can any
?^ . * carnal appetite fo over-power your reafon, or fo totally

* lay it afleep, as to prevent your flying with affright

* and terror from a crime which carries /uch punifhment

* Always with it? '

* How bafe and mean muft that woman be, how void

* of that dignity of mind, and decent pride, without
'^•| * which we are not worthy the name of human creatures,

m * ^^*° ^^" ^^^^ *^ ^^^^^ herfelf with the loweft animal,
?% * and to facrifice all that is great and noble in her, all
'*i * her heavenly part, to an appetite which ftie hath in

1 ^ common with the vileft branch of the creation ! For no
^1 ♦ woman fure will plead the paffion of love for an excufe.
■ . ^ 1 nis would be to own herfelf the mere tool and bubble

I* of the nian. Love, however barbaroufly we» may cor-
* rupt and pervert its meaning, as it is laudable, it is
* a rational paffion, and can never be violent, but when

reciprbcal ; for though iJ^Scripture bids us love our

f* enemies, it means not "fl^[^tliat fervent love which we
* naturally bear towards our friends ; much lefs that we

* (hould facrifice to them our lives, and, what ought to
j ^ be dearer to us, our innocence. Now, in what light,
^ * but in that of an enemy, can a reafonable woman regard

•• the man who folicits her to entail on herfelf all the

* mifery I have defcribed to you, and who would pur-^
•* chafe to himfelf a (hort, trivial, contemptible pleafure,

* fe' greatly at her expence ? For, by the laws of cudom,

* t^e whole fhame, with all its dreadful confequences,

* ife,Ua ectirely upon her. Can love, which always feeks
h ^'^^Jl^^Sf*^'^ ^^^ objt6t, alteirvYtXo \i^Vt^.^ ■?i.^Q;^>axv\^*

ao The H I S T O R Y • of a Book t

« to a bargain where (he is fo greatly to be the lofer ? If

* fuch corrupter, therefore, fhould have tlie Imprudence

* to pretend a real afFedllon for her, ought not the wo-

* man to regard him, not only as an enemy, but as the

* worft of all enemies ; a falfe, defigning, treacherous,

* pretended friend, who intends not only to debauch her

* body, but her underftanding at the fame time ?*

Here Jenny expreffing great concern, Allworthy pau-
fed a moment, and then proceeded j « I have talked thus

* to you, child, not to infult you for what is paft and

* irrevocable, but to caution and ftrengthen you for the

* future : nor (hould I have taken this trouble, but from

< fome opinion of your good fenfe, notwithftanding the
<• dreadful flip you have made ; and from fome hopes,

* of your hearty repentance, which are founded on the

* opennefs and lincerity of your confeflion. If thefe do

* not deceive me, I will take care to convey you from

* this fcene of your fhame, where you (hall, by being

< unknown, avoid the punifhment which, as I have faid,

* is allotted to your crime in this world ; and I- hopcj

* by repentance, you will avoid the much heavier fen-

* tence denounced againll it in the other. Be a good

* girl the reft of your days, and want fhall be no motive

* to your going aftray : and believe me, there is more

* plealure, even in this world, in an innocent and virtuous

* life, than in one debauched and vicious.

* As to your child, let no thoughts concerning it mo-

* left you, I will provide for it in a better manner than

* you can ever hope. And now nothing remains, but that

* you inform me who was .th^ wicked man that feduced

* you ; for my anger agai^^him will be much greater

* than you have experienced on this occafion.'

Jenny now lifted up her eyes from the ground, and with
a modeft look, and decent voice, thus began ?

' To know, you, Sir, and not love your goodness, would

* be an argument of total want of fenfe or goodnefs in

y ohe. In me it would amount to the higheft ingra-
ude, not to feel, in the moft fenfible manner, the
^at degree of goodnefs you have been pleafed to ex-
: on this occalion. As. to my concern for what Is paft,
I know you will fpare my blufhes the repetition. My
future condud will much better declare my fentimcntai

jCSiap. 7. FOUNDLING. tt

* than any profeiiions I can now make. I beg leave to

* afliire you, Sir, that 'I take your advice much kinder,
-* than your generous offer with which you concluded it.

* For, as you are pleafed to fay, Sir, it is an inilancc
1 of your opinion of my underftanding ' — Here her tears
flowing apace, fhe ftopped a few moments, and then
proceeded thus : • Indeed, Sir, your kindnefs overcomes
"* me ; but I will endeavour to deterve this good opinion :
"* for if I have the underftanding you are fo kindly plea-
^ ikd to allow me, fuch advice cannot be thrown away

* on me.* I thank you, Sir, heartily, for your intended

* kindnefs to my poor helplefs child : he is innocent, and,

* I hope, will live to be grateful for all the favours you

* ihall (hew him. ^But now, Sir, I muft on my knees
"* intreat you, not to perfift in aflcing me to declare the

< father of ray infant. I promife you faitlifully, you

< fliaU one day know ; but I am under the moft folemn

* ties and engagements of honour, as well as the moft

* religious vows and proteftations, to conceal his nam«

* at this time. And L know you too well to think you

* would defire I fhould facrifice either my honour or my

* pcligion.'

Mr Allworthy, whom the leaft mention of thofe fa-
cred words was lufficlent to ftagger, hefitat^d a moment
before he replied, and then told her, cfhe had done wrong
10 enter into fuch engagements to a villain j but fince
ihe had, he could not infift on her breaking them. He
faldf it was not from a motive of vain curiofity he had
inquired, but in order to puniih the fellow ; at leaft, that
he might not ignorantly confer favours on the unde-
fcrving.

As to thefe points, Jenny fatisfied him by the moft fo-

nlemn af&rances, that the man was entirely out of ltl«
reach,, and was neitiier fubjeft to. his power, nor in any
^nopbabiilty of becoming an ohjedt of his goodnefs.
'jri.Tke ingenuity of this behaviour had gained Jenny fo

*. ciuidi credit ' with this worthy man, that he eafiiy fedi^-

«^ .what >{he told him: for as flie had difdaincd to ex-

. Ci|^^|>eri«(lf by a lie, and had hazarded liis farther difplea-

-t^iil^, jiLvher prefcnt fituatlon, rather than fhe would for-

;i;^£^^y|par'(>^aoiiti 'Or integrity, by betraying another, he

,!:«i^^' ^ ' ■■■' "

125 The HISTORY of a Bookie

•had but little apprehenfion that Ihe would be guilty of
4alfehood towards himfelf.

He therefore difmified her with afTuranees tliat he
would very foon remove her out of the reach of that ob-
loquy (he had incurred, concluding with fome additional
documents, in which he recammended repentance, fay-
ing, * Confider, child, there is One flill to reconcile your-

* ielf to, whofe favour is of mUch greater importance to

* you than mine.'

CHAP. vni.

,A dialogue hetniren Mefdames Bridget and D'ehorah *,^
containing more a77iufe?nenti^ but lejs inflru6licny tkafA
the for 7!! er.

WHEN Mr Allworthy had retired to his ftudy wl
Jenny Jones, as hath been feen, Mrs Bridgei
with the good houfekeeper, had betaken themfelves to
poll next adjoining to the faid ftudy ; whence, througli
the conveyance ol a key-hole, they fucked in at thef<
cars the inftrudlive Ie6lure delivered by Mr Allworthyj
together with the anfwers of Jenny, and indeed ever]
other particular which paficd in the la 11 chapter.

This hole in her brother's ftudy-door was indeed
well known to Mrs Bridget, and had been as frequently
applied to by her, as the famous hole in the wall was b)
Tiiifbe of old. This , ferved to . many good purpofcs
For, by fuch means, IMrs Bridget became often acquaint--
ed with her brother's inclinations, without giving hin
the trouble of repeating tliem to her. It is true, fomi
inconveniencies attended this intercourfe, and fhe hac
fometimes reafpn to cry Out with Thilbe, in Shakefpeare

* O wicked, wicked wall !' For, as Mr Allworthy was J
juftice of peace, certain things occurred in examinations
concerning ballards, and fuch like, which are apt to giv«

. great o{I'g:ice to the chalte ears of virgins, efpeciall)
Avht^n they approach the age of forty, as was the cafe ol
Mrs Bridget. However, Ihe had, on fuch occalions, tb<
advantage of concealing her blushes from- the eyes- c^
men ; and De non apparentibus, et non exijieutibus^ ^rf
t/<f^/ e/? ral/o. In Englifii, * When a woman is not

■f to blufh, {be doth not blufti alaW

■ jiik^A-.., .

Chap. S. FOUNDLING. 23

Both the good women kept ftrid filence during the
whole fcene between Mr AH worthy and the girl ; but as
foon as It was ended, and that gentleman out of hear-
ing, Mrs Deborah could not help exclaiming againft the
clemency of her mafler, and efpecially agaiiiHt his fuf-
fering her to conceal the father of the .child, which fhe
fwore fli€ would have out of her before the fun-f2t.

At thefe words Mrs Bridget difcompofed her features-
with a fmile, (a thing very unufual to her) ; not that I
would have my reader imaji;ine, that this was one ot
thofe wanton fmiles * which Homer wc^ld have you con •
ceive came from Venus, when he calls her the laughter-
loving god'lefs ; nor was it one of tlioic fmiles whiclr
Lady Seraphina (hoots from the Itage-boK, and which
Venus would quit her immortality to .be able to equal.
No, this was rather one of thofe :6nile8" ',wluch might be
fuppofed to ,have come from the dimpled cheeks of the
auguft Tifiphone, or from one of the miffes her fillers.

Withfuch a fmile thea, and with a voice fweet as the
evening brecie of Boreas in the pleafant month of No-^
Ycmber, Mrs Bridgfet. gently reproved the curiofity of
Mrs Dtjborah J a. vice with vrhioh, it fcema, the latter
was too much tainted, and which the former inveighed
againft with great bitternefy; adding, that among ail her
faults, fhe thanked Heaven, her enemies could not accufe
her of prying into the afl'airs of other people.

She then proceeded to commend the honour and fpirit
with which Jenny had acled. She faid, fhe could not
help agreeing with her brother, that there was fome me-
rit in the fmcerity of her confellion, and in her integri-
ty to her lover : that flie had always thought her a very
-good girl, and doubted not but fhe had beCii fcduced hj
; iome rafcal, who had been infinitely more to blame thaa
; herfclf, and very probably had prevailed with her by a
; fiX^ife of marriage, or fome other treacherous pro-

I %59fhi8/ behaviour or Mrs Bridget greatly furprifed Mrs
t^fflOTwah ; for this w<ll bred woman fcldom opened her
f? ^^^pfj^^fbtx to lK!r rnafter or his fifter, till, fhe had firft
. .„^ their inclinations, with which her fentiments

^1 jW^pjrtiw^ys ftri^lly confonaut. Here, • however, flie
mamml^jpSi,^^ might have launched &t^ v^v^ix ^-^^^X"^ % "v^.^.

D 2

24 The H I S T O R Y of a Book I. ^

the fagacious reader will not, ijerhaps, accufe her of want
of fufiicient forccaft in fo doi;>g, but will rather admire with
what wondjCrful celerity fhe tafcked about, when ihe found
herfelf llecring a wi'ong courfe.

* Nay, Madam,* faid this able woman, and.tifirlj great
politician, ' I mull own I cannot help admiring the girl'»

- * fpirit, as well as your JLadyiliip, And, as your La-

* dyfhip fays, if fhc was deceived by fome wicked man,

* the poor wretch is to be pitied. And, to be fure, as

* your Lady (hip fays, the girl hath always appeared

* like a good, hoeeft,. plain girh, aiid not vain of her

* face, forfooth, as fome wanton huffe^'s in the neighbour*

* hood are.^ . - .

* You fay true^ Deborah^' faid ^Mrs Bridget, * i£ th^

* girl had been ofte of thofe vain trollops, of whidh wd

* have too many iti the parifh, I fhould have condemned
^ my brother for his lenity towards her. I faw twa

* farmers daughters at church, the other day, with bare

* nepks. I proteft they (hocked me. If wenches will hang

* out lures for fellows, itis no matter what they fufitBr. 1

* deteft fuch crdatures i and it would be much better for

* them, that their faces had been feamcd with the fmalU

* pox ; hut I maft confiefs, I never faw arty of this wimtonh

* behaviour in poor Jenny ; fome artful villain, I am con-;

* vinced, hath betrayed, nay, perhaps, forced her ^ and I

* pity the poor wretch with all my heart.' ^

Mrs Deborah approved all thefe fentiments, and the
dialogue concluded with a general and bitter inventive
againft beauty, and with many compaffionate confidcrationa
for. all honeft, plain girls^ who are deluded by the wicked
arts of deceitful men.

. C H A P. IX.

Containhg matters 'whkh ivili furprife the reader*

JENNY returned home well pleated with the receptionr
fhe had met with from Mr All worthy, whofe indul-- ^
gence to her fhe induftrioufly made public ; partly, per- .
haps, as a facrifice to her own -pride, and partly from thef ',
iriort prudent motive of reconciling her neightoura to lierji;-^
^/7c/ /Z/ciicin^: their ckmours. J

tliap. gr. FOUNDLING. i^

But though i\fk btter view, if (he indeed had it, may
appear reafonable enough, yet the event did not anfwer-
her expe^tatfon : for when (he was convened before th^
juftice, and it was univcrfally apprehended; that the houfe
of corre Aion would have been her fate ; though fome of
the young women cried out, It was good eiiough for\ her>
and diverted themfelves w^tli the thoughts of her beatmg
hemp in a filk gown ; yet there were many others who n
began to pity her condition : but when it was- knowni in ^
what manner Mr AHworthy had behaved, < the tide turned
againft her. One fiiidj * 1*11 aflure you. Madam hath had

* good luck.' A fecond cry'd, * See what it is to be sl-

* favourite.* A third, * Ay, this comes of her learning.*
Every perfon- made fome malicious comment or other, oa
Ae occalion 5 and reffctStcd on the partiality of the juftice.

The behaviour of thefe people may appear impolitic
and ungratefiil tb the reader, who conliders the power
and' the benevolence- of Mr Allworthy ;- bat as to his
power^ he never ufed it ; and a* to his benevojence, he
exerted fo much, that he had thereby difobliged all hit
neighbours : for^ it is a fecret well known to great men,
t^at by confernng an obligation, they do not always^
procure a friend, but are certain of creating many ene-
mies*

Jenny was, however, by the care and goodnefs of Mr?
AUworthy, foon removed out of the reach of reproach;
when malice, being no longer able to vent its rage on
her, bcgp^n to feck another objedl of its bitternefs, and
rfiis was nolefs than Mr AUworthy fiimfelf; for a wliiT-
per foon went abroad that he himfelf Was the father of the
foundling child.

This Uippoiition fo well reconciled his condii<^ to the
general opinion, that it met with univerfal aficnt ; and
^j^ontcry againfl his lenity foon began to take anothtr
4^^ and was changed into an inveftive againll his cru-
i^l|Bto the poor girl^ Very grave and good women ex-
elg^ed againll men who b^ot children and then dif*
(prti^d them. Nor were there wanting, fome, who, af-
t6r|lie departure of Jenny, jnfinuated, that /he was fpi-
rl^ aw^y v^nth a delign too black to be mentioned, and^
»lid(^^C frequent hints, that a legal inc^uiry or.^ht ti>;'

26 The HISTORY o£« . Book I,

be made into the whole matter^. i^E^0^t fome people
Hiould be forced to produce the 'girl* ' * *

Thcfe calumnies might have probably produced ill-con-
fequences (at the leaft might have occafioncd fome trouble)
to a perfon cf a more doubtful and fufpicious character
than Mr Allworthy was blefTed with ; but in his cafe they
liad no fuch effedl ; and, being heartily defpifed by himi
they ferved only to afford an innocent amufement to ihe
!jood goflipG of the neighbourhood

But as we cannot pofiibly divine what complexion our
reader may be of, and as it will be 'fome time before he
will hear any more of Jenny, we tliink proper to give him a
very early, intimation, that Mr. Allworthy was, and wiH
licreafter appear to be, abfolutely innocent of any criminal
intention whatever. He had indeed committed no other
than an error in politics, by tempering juftice with mercy,
-nnd by refufmg to gratify the good-natured difpoCtion of
the m.ob*, with an objcft for their compafion to work on
in the pc;-fon of poor Jenny, whom, in order to pity, they
dcfircd to have been facrificed to ruin and infamy by a
flian~efnl corre£iion in a Bridewell.

So far, from complying with this their ificlinatioh, by
which all hopes of reformation would have been aboliflied,
and even the gate fhut againft Jicr, if her own inclinations
ihould ever hereafter lead her to chufe the road of virtue,
Mn Allworthy rather chufe to encourage the glA tq re-
Unn thither hv the only pofuble means ; for too true I am.
afraid it is, ^lat many women have become abandoned^
r.nl have funk to the laft degree of vice, by being una-
ble to retrieve the firil flip.) This will be, I am afraid, al-
ways the. cafe while they remain among their former ac-
f juaintance ; it was therefore wifely done by Mr Allworthy,
to remove Jtnny to a place where fhe might enjoy tlie pica-
fure of reputation, after liaving tailed the ill-confequenc<
cf lofing it, . "'

I'o ilua, place therefore, where- ever it was, w(
wifh her a good journey, and for the prefent take 1'
of her, and of the liitle foundling her child, haViiSp

* Whenever this word occurs in our writings, it intend* *, ■,
/)erfon8 without virtue, or fcnfc, in all ftations ; and niRiijif;i|l
o/t/jc bJghcH rauk arc ofccn meant by h, '^*

Chap. lo. FOUNDLING. 2^

matters of much higher importance to communicate to
the reader.

CHAP. X.

Ybe hofpttaltty of Mr. Alkmrthy ; ivith a Jbort Jketch of
the charahers of the tnxw hrotkersy a doCior and a cap*
tai/ty 'who ivere entertained by that gentleman,

NEITHER Mr. Allworthy's houfe, nor his heart, were
ftiut againft any part of mankind, but they were
both more particularly open to men of merit. To fay the
truth, this was the only houfe in the -kingdom where you
\Ya8 fure to gain a dinner by deferving it.

Above all others, men of genius and learning fharedthe
'principal place in hi« favour; and in thefe he had much
difcernment : for though he had mifled the advantage of a
learned education, yet being blefl with vait natural abih'ties,
he had fo well profited by a vigorous, though late applica^
tion to letters, and by much converfation with men of emi-
nence in this way, that he was himfelf a very competent
judge in mod kinds of literature.

It is no wonder that in an age when this kiiS^ of merit
is fo little in faihion, and fo flcnderly provided for, per-
fons . pofTeffed of it fhould very eagerly flock to a place
where they were fure of being received with great com-
plaifence ; iadetd, where they might enjoy almolt the fame
■ advantages of a liberal fortune as if they v/ere intitled to
it in their own right ; for Mr Alhvorthy was not one of
thofe generous perfons, who are ready moft bountifully to
beftow meat, drink, and lodging on men of wit and "learn-
\iy^^ for wliieh tlicy expedt no otlier return but entertain-
ment, inftruftion', fiattery, and fubferviency ; in a word,
♦ that fuch perfons fliould be inrolled in the number of do-
.il|efti«e, without wearing their mailers cloaths, or receive
lB^,waJ*es.

,f pn til© Contrary, every perfon in this houfe was per-
" vi^^fter of his own time : and as he might at his plea- -
" iisfy all his appetites within the rellridions only of
^ue, and religion ; fo he mi?^bt, if his health re-
^r his inclination prompted him to temperancev^
bAxuence, abfcut hiir^df Ix^ia ^x^^ \\K>i!k^^\^^-^

oS The HISTORY ofa. Bookl

tire from them whenever he was fo difpofcd, Without cven^
• a fulicltation to the contrary, for indeed, fuch foHcitationj
from fupcriors always favour vtry ftrongly of commaQds*
But all here were free from fueh impertinence, not only
. thofe whofe company is in all other places efteemcd a fa-
vour from their equality of fortune, but even thofc whofir
indigent circumftances make fuch eleemofynary abode con-
venient to them, and wlro are therefore lefs welcome to a-
great man's table, bccaufe they ftand in need of it.

Among others of rhis kind was Th Bliftl, a gentleman'
who had the misfortune of lofing the advantage of great
talents by the obftinacy of a father, who would breed hira
to a profefllon he dilliked. In obedience to this obfti-
nacy the do£lor had in his youth been obliged to ftudy
phylic, or rather to fay he ftudied it ; for in reality books
of this kind were almoft the only ones with which he was
unacquainted ; and unfortunately for him, the do£^or waa
matter of almoft every other fcience but that by which he
was to get his bread ; the confequence of which was, that-
the doftor at the age of forty had no bread to eat.

Such a perfon as thia was certain to find a welcome at*
Mr All^^rthy's table, to whom misfortunes were ever ^
recomxriCTlation when they werfe derived from the folly or
villainy of others, and not of the unfortunate perfon him--
felf. Befides this negative merit, the dodor had one poii*
tive recommendation. This was a great appearance of re-
ligion. Whether his religion was real, or confifted only
in appearance, I ihali not prefume to fay, as I am not
jSoflefled of any touchftone whibh can dillinguiih the true
from tfee falfe.

If this part of kis charafter pleafed Mr. All worthy, it
delighted Mifs Bridget. She engaged him in many relf-
gious controveriies ; on whi/.h occaiions (he cdnftantly ex—
preficd great fatisfadlioii in the do6lor's knowledge, and •
not much lefs in the compHments wliich he frequently be- •
ftowed on her own; To fay the truth; flie had read much
Englifti divinity, and had puzzled more than one of the
neighbouring curates. Indeed her converfation was fo
pure, her looks fo fage, and her whole deportment fo
grave and folemn, that me feemed to deferve the name of
laint equally with ner name-fake, or with any othWfl-
Utah in the Roman kaleadar^

Chap. fo. FOUNDLING. 29

A& fympathics 6f all kinds are apt to beget lovcj fo ex-
perience teaches us that none have a more diredl tendency
this way than thofe of a religious kind between perfdns of
different fexec. The do£l6r found himfelf fo agreeable to
Mifs Bridget , that he now began to lament an unfortu-
oate aecidertt which had happened to him about ten years
before ; namely, his marriage with, anothei* woman, who
was not Only flill alive, but what was worfe, known to be
lb. by Mr AUworthy. . This waft a. fatal bar to that hap-
pinefs vjrhich he otherwife faw fuiucicnt probability of ob-
taining* with thi8:young lady ; for as to criminal indulgen-
ces^ be certainly never thought of them. This was owing
either to his religion, as is moil probable, or to the purity.
of: his palUon^ which was fixed on thofe ^nga \vhich ma-
tnitiony oh\j9 ^d not criminal correfpondence. could put
him in poffeifion of, or could give him any title to.

- He had not long ruminated on thefe matters, before it
occurred to his inemory that he had a brother who was un-
der «o fuch unhappy incapacity. The brother he made no
doubt wduld fuccccd f for he diicerned^ ar he thought, an
inclination to marriage in the lady j and the reader per-
haps, when he hears the brother's qualifications will not
blame- tht confidence which he entertained cf His^ faccefs.

, Tliis gentleman was about thirty-five years of age. He
was of a middle fize, aiid what is called 'WTll^-built. He
had a fear on his forhead, which did not fo inuch injuri
hi& beauty, as it denoted hia valour (for he was a half-
pay officer.) He had good teeth, and fomethiflg affable,
when he phkfed, in hisimile: thougli narurally his coun-*
tenance, as well as his air and voice, had much of rough-#
nefs in it, yet he could at any time depofit this, and appear
all gentlenefs and good humour. He was not ungenteel,
nor entirely void ot wit, and in his yotith had abounded in
fprightlinefs, which, though he had lately put on a more
ferious character, he could, when he pleafed, refume.

Heliad, as well as the do^or, ah academic education;
for his father had, with the fame paternal authority we
layc mentioned before, decreed him for holy orders ; but
%9 ibc old gentleman died before he was ordained, he chofe
t^c ^urch militant, and preferred the king's commillion to

^^Ihop's.

" ^^ww^ ^^^ purchafed the pod of UtuUii'wa ol to>?gi«w^'^

■'*h .;:-.'J-'

30 The H I S T O R Y of a Book L

and afterwards came to be a captain ; but haTing quar-
relled with his colonel, was by his intereft obliged to fell ;
from which time he had entirely rufticated himlelf, had be-
taken himfelf to ftudying the fcriptures, aud was not a litx
tie fufpedled of an inclinatiou to methodlfm.

It feemed therefore not unlikely* that fuch a perfon
fhould fucceed with a lady of fo faint-like a difpolition,
and whofe inclinations were no otherwife engaged than to'
the manried ftateki. general : but why the do£lor, wha
certainly had no great friendftiip for his- brother, fhould
for his fake think of making To ill a return to the hofpitali-
ty of Allworthy, is a inatter not fo eafy to be account-
ed for.

Is it that fome natures^ delight in evil, as others are
thought to delight in virtue ? Or, is there a pleafurc in be-
ing acceffory to a theft, whert we cannot commit it our--
fclves ? Or, laftly, (which experience ffiems to make pro-
bable), have we a fatisfadtion in aggrandizing our families^
even though w& have not the leaft.Iove or retpeft for them?

Whether any of thefe motives oper?ited on the doAor we
will not determine ; but fo the fadl v^'as. He fent for his
brother, and eafily found means to introduce him at All-
worthy's » as a perfon who intended only a ftiort vifit to
himfelf.

The captain had not been in the houfe a week before
the do^or had reafon to felicitate himfelf on his difcern-
ment. The captain. was indeed as great a mafter of the
art of love as Ovid was formerly. He had, befides, re-
ceived proper hints from his brother, which he failed natf
to improve to the bcft advantage.^ .

Chap. II. FOUNDLING. 31

CHAP. XL

Containing many rules ^^ and fome examples ^ concerning falling
" Jn love : defer ipt'ions of beauty y and other more prudential
inducements to matrimony.

IT hath been obferved by wife men or women, I forget
which, that all perfons are doomed to be in love once
in their lives. No particular feafon is, as I remember, af-
iigned for this ; but the age at which Mifs Bridget wis
arrived, feems to me as proper a period as any to be fixed
-on for this purpofe : Jt often indeed happens much earlier ;
but when it doth not, I have obfervtd, it feldom or never
fails about this time. Moreover, we may remark that at
this feafon love is of^ more fcrious'and fteady nature than
^hat fometimes fheWs itfelf in the younger parts of life. The
love of girls is uncertain, capricious, and fo foclifh that we
-cannot always djfcover what the young lady would be at,
nay, it mayalmoft be doubted whether fl?e always kuows
this herfelf. '

Now we are never at a lofs to difcern this in women a-
l)OUt forty ; for as fuch grave j ferious, and experienced la-
<lies well know their own meaning, fo it is always very ea-
fyfor a man of the lead fagacity to difcover it with the ut-
jnoft certainty. ' •

Mifs Bridget is an example of all thefe obfervations.
She had not been many times in the captain's company be-
fore (he was feized with this paflion. Nor did (he go pin-
ing and moping about the houfe, like a puny fo%lifh girl.
Ignorant of her diftemper ; (he felt, fhe knew, 'and fhe en-
joyed, the pleafing fenfatiort, of which, as (he was certain
it was not only innocent but laudable, fhe was neither
afraid nor afhamed.

And to fay the tnith, there is in all points great differ-
•cnce between the reafonable paflion which women at this
-age conceive towards men, and the idle and childiih liking
{^►^girl to a boy, which is often fixed on the outfide only,

"^^n things of little value and no duration : as on cherry-

' 9# fmall lily-white hands, floe-black eyes, flowing

djowny chins, dapper fliapes, nay, fdmetimes on

r>TKfre worthkfs, and lefs the party*s o^'ir,%ch are

"L ornaments of the perfoiv^ fot ^\iv:^\ \fij£^%i^^*Q!^-

^% The HI S T p R Y of a Book I,

holden to the taylor, the lace-man, the perriwig-raaker, the
Latter, and the miUiaer, aod not to natruc. Such a palTion
gills may well be afliamed, as they generally are, to own
lekher tothemfelves or to others. , ^ -

The love of Mifa Bridget was of another kind. The
captain owed nothing to any of thcfe fop-makers in ' his
rlrefs, nor what his perfon much more beholden to nature*
Both his drefs and perfon were fuch as, had they appear-
!t^\VL an aflembly, or a drawing-room, would haye been
the contempt and ridicule of all the fine ladies tlier^
The former of thefe was indeed i>eat, but.p]ain, cparf^,
,ill -fancied, and out of faihion. As for the latter, v^e
have exprefsly defcribed it above. So far was the iliin
on his cheeks from being cherry-coloured, that' you could
not difcern what the natural colour of his cheeks was,
they being totally overgrown by a black beard, which
afcended to his eyes. His fhape and limbs were indeed
exaclly proportioned, but fo large, that they denoted ^he
ftrength rather, of a plowman than any other. His flioul-
ders were broad, beyond all fize, and the calves of his
legs larger than thofe of a cojnmon chairman. In (hort,
liis whole perfon wanted all that elegance and beauty,
which is the very reverfe of clumfy ftrength, and which
fo agreeably fets off rnoft of our fiQC gentlemen; being
partly awing to the high blood of their anceftors, vi%.*
blood made of rich fauces and generous" wines, and partly
to an early town education.

Though Mifs Bridget was a woman of the greate-fl -
-delicac^^of tafte ; yet, fuch were the charms of the cap-
Afain^s converfations that flie totally overlooked the de-
fedls of his perfon. She imagined, that perhaps very
wifely, that he fhould enjoy more agreeable minutes
with the captain than with a much .prettier fellovi^; ?isd
forewent the confideration of pleafttig her eyes, in order
to procure herfelf much mojre folid fatisfajctiou. ,

The captain no fooiKT perceived the paflions of Mifs
Bridget, in which difcovery he was very quick-fight^,
thfin he faithfully returned it. The lady, no more thi
her lover, was remarkable for beauty. I v^o$ld
tempt to draw her picture ; but tjiat is done alrHijjy
a more able mailer, Mr Hogarth himfelf, to v,$ ' '
fat many year9 ago, and hsui beenel^Kly cxhib;

■^

Chap;ir. FOUNDLING. ^5

that g^int^eman in his print of a winter's; morning, of
which fhe Wiis no improper «imblem, and may hfi feen
walking (for walk (he doth initbe print) toi Covcnt-Gar-
den Cliurch, with a ilarved.foot-boy behind carrying her
prayer-book.

The captain h'kewife very wifely preferred the more
iblid enjoyments he expeded with this lady, to the fleet-
ing charms pf perfon. He Was one of thofeVife men,
who regard beauty in the. other fejt as a yery worth efs
and fuperficial qualification ; or, to (peak more truly,
who rather- chijfe j:o poflefs every conveaience of life with
an ugly \iroman, than a handfome one without any of
thefe convenienciea. And having a very good appetite,
and but little, nicety, he fancied he (hould play his part
very well at the matrimonial banquet, without the faucc
of beauty.

To deal plai^ily with the reader, the captain, ever fincc
his arriyal,r at leaft from the moment his brother had«pro-
pofed the match to him, long before he had difcovered any
flattering: fymptoms in Mifs Bridget, had been greatly
enamoured j that is to fay, of Mr Allworthy's houfe and
gardens, and of his lands, tenements, and hereditaments ;
of all which the captain was fo . pafljonately fond, that he
would moft probably have contra<fled marriage with them^
had he been obliged to have taken the witch of Endor
into the bargain.

As Mr Allworthy, therefore, had declared to the doc-
tor, that he never intended to take a fecond wife, as his
filler was his neare'fl relation, and as the do^or had
iifhed out t;hat his intentions were to make any child KlP
hers his heir,, which indeed the law, without his inters
pofition, would have done for him ; the doftor and his
brother thought it an a£t of benevolence to give being to
a.iiuman ,creature, who would be fo plentifully provided
with the moll eflential means of happinefs The whole
thoughts, therefore, of both the brothers were how to
^£?S^ the affedlions of this amiable lady.

Jput fortune, who is a tender parent, and often doth

<Lfor her favourite ofFapring than either they de-

wiih, had been fo iaduilrious for the captalp,

ilfl: he was laying fchem(^ to*0i|mMH|||[|^-

lady conceived the {um<i 'i<t^vc^^ \{^^
' ** .j^ El

K^V^

34 The ari STORY ^^ Bbok t

and was on her fide cbninvinghovr t6 give th« captain
proper encouragement, \n"ithout appearing too ^fot\^ard ;
lor ihe wa6 a ftrift oblervcr bf all rules of decorum. In
ris, however, (he eafily fuccecded ; for, as the captain

is always on the look-out, no glance, gefture, or word
cfc«pedhim.

The fatisfaftion which the captain received from the
Idnd behaviour of Mifs Bridget, was not a little abated
by his appreheniions of Mr All worthy ; for, notvs^th*-'
landing his difmterefted profdiions, the captain imagined
he would, when he came to aft, fonow*^ the examples of
the reft of the world, and refufe his cohfcht to a match fa
difadvantageous, in point of intereft, to his fifter. From
•what oracle he received this opinion, I fhall leave the
Teader to determine ; but, however he came by it, it
flrangely perplexed him how to regulate his conduA fo as
at once to convey his afFedion to the lady, and to conceal^
it from her brother. He, at length refolved to'^take all
private opportunities of making his addreffe^ ; but in the
prefence of Mr Alli^orthy to he as referved, and as miich
iipon his guard, as was ^cffible *, and this conduft was*
highly approved by^ the brother.

vHe fcon found means to make his addrefies; in e'xprefs
terms, to his miftrefs, from whom he received an anfwer.
3n the proper form, viz, the anfwer which was firft made
fome thoufands of years ago, and which hhth been hand*^
cd down by tradition from mother to daughter ever lince.
1l£ I was to tranflate this into Latin, I flibuld render it
jby thcfe-two words, No/o -Eptfcopart : a phrafe likevvife of .
mtmcmorial ufeon another occafion.

The captain, however be came by his ^ ^knowledge,
perfectly well undcrftood the lady ; and very foon after
repeated his applicetion with more warmth and earneft-
3iefs than before, and v/as again, according to due form,
3-ejefted ; but as he had increafed in the eagernefs of hi?
(delires, fo the lady, with the fame prcpriety, decreafed
in the violence of her refufal. t*

Not to tire the reader by leading him through every
fcene of this courtfhip, (which, though, in the opinio^ir
of a certain great author, it is the pleafant^ft fcene of
J)iJ^^M|li^^CH'^ is perhaps as dull and tirefome ©s an^ ^

*"^^^^ the audience), tlxs ci^pl^cm vix^dt Ui^ 4|ivanfc. -

Ghap. 12, FOUNDLING. 35

ces in form, the citadel was defended in form, and at
length, in proper form furrendered at discretion.

During t]u& whole, time, whi<?h filled the fpoce of near
Sk 9ionth, the capt^iiili preferved gi?cat diftance of bdia-
yiour to his lady" in tlie prcfence. of the brother ; and
the more he fucceeded with her in priyate> the more re-
ferved was he in public. And as for the lady, (he had
DO fooner fecured her lover than fhe behaved to him be-
fore company with the highfeft, degree of indifference*
fot^at W^ All worthy muft have had the infight of the
devil (or perhaps fome of hi? worfe. qualities) to have
entertained the leaft fufpicion of what was going forward.

! ; CHAP. xn.

QontAitfmg lAffMi the- r^^isr may^ perhaps^ exfe^ to find

. , ^ j ..p,. .. ■ . . ,,[ .., , in it, ^ u ^^

TN alJlb^tjgJib^i Mph^^h^er to fight or to marry, or con-
J: periling ^ftyptht^r^fiich bufinefs, little previous cere-
money is -requiiced to bring the matter to an iffue, whert
tp^h partie? ar*e really in earneft. Tliis was the cafe at
prefe«ty an4 in lefs than a mpnth the captain and his la-
%ji were Ria«»?and wife.

- -Ths gr^t^ cQUQerpi j^QW.M^iM.f Q. break the matter to Mr
All worthy ; and this was undertaken by the doctor.

One day then as Allworthy was walkinjr in his garden,
the do(3cJr paflp^e to him, a^, with, great gravity of a-
fpe<St« ^nd aU t^e concern :\V^hich he could? polfibly aff<^
in his^ countenance, faid, * I am come,: Sir, to impiart 2S
* zSt&r Ko you of the utmoft confeqtience ; but how (hall

< I mentidn td you what it al^ioft diftradls mo to think

< of I' He then launched forth into the moft bitter invec-
tives both againft men and women ; accufing the former

of having no attachment but to their intereft, and the ',

bM;ter of being fo addi6lid to vicious inclinations, that
ih^y could I never be fafely truftedi with one of the other
f#^ V Qm^ I,' faid he, < Sir, have fufpeded that a lady J

t,^^U(llirprudence,u fuch judgment, fuch learninff, ihould
^rg^m^f^i^ indifcreet a paffion : or could I have imagined ^

f -Alllmy fcrother — why do I call him fo ? He is no longer

- # i^Jjjiitlier of mine.'—

■;'\-'':/ " "E ^

■ , ^ •;

2,6 ' TheHlSTORY ofa Book I.

Indeed but ht is,' faid AUworthy, * and a brother of
« mine too.'——' Blefs me, Sir,' faid the dodor, < do

* you know the ftiocking affair V Look'tc, Mr BlJfil,'

anfwered the good. man, * it- hath been my conftant ma-

* xim in life, to make the b^ft of all matters which^hap-

* pen. My filler, though many years younger than I,

* is at leaft old • enough to be -at the age of difei^etion.
< Had he impofed on a child, I fnoiild have been more

* averfe to have forgiven him ; but a' womSii'upWalrds of
« thirty muft ; certainly be fuppofed to know what will

* make her moft happy. She hath man^ied a gentleman j

* though perhaY>s not <juite her ^qual in fortune; aiid if

* he hath any perfedl ions in her eye, which can make up

* that deficiency, I fee no reafoh wily I fhould objc£l to

* her choice of her own happinefs ; which I, no more
^ than hcrfelf, imagine to confift only in immenf6 wiealtb.

* I might perhaps, from the many declarations I have

* made, of complying with almoft any propofal, have ex-

* pedled to have been conful ted on this occafion 5 but thefc

* matters are ofa very delicate natut-e, • aHd the fcniplcs

* of modeily,.perhap8, are not to be overcorA^. As to; your

* brother, 1 have really no anger againft him at all.; -He

* hath no obligatit>ns to rtie, nor do I think he Was wider

* any neceflity of alldng my confent, fince the womjin is,'

* as I have feid^ fui juris, and of a proper age to be entire-

* ly anfwerable only toherfelffor her condu^. ' -^
The dodor aceufed Mr All worthy of too great iemty,

repeated hrs accufations againft his brother, arid deckr<fdf
itat he fliould never more be brought either to ie^', ©r ta
own him for lirs reladon. ^ He then launched forth into a'
|)anJegyric on Ailworthy's goodnefs ; into the higheft en-
comiums on his friendfhip; and concluded by fayingj he
fhould never forgive his brother for having put the place
which he bore in that friendfhip to a hazard.

AUworthy thus anfwered : * Had I conceived any diJP

* pleafure againft your brother, L fhould never have car*

* ried that'refentment to the ipnocent; but I aiTureyoii
« I have no fuch difpleafure. Your brother appears to me^

* to be a man of fenfe, and honour. I do not dJfapprOve

* the tafle of my fiftcr ;v nor will I doubt but that (lie is?

* equally the objed ct" his inclinations. I have alway^

Chap. 12. FOUNDLING. if

* thought love the only foimdition of happinefs in* a mat*

* ricd itate ; as it can only produce that high and tender

* friendfhip which (hoold always be the- cement of this

* union ; andy in my opinion, all thofe marriages which,

* are contra^ed from other motives, are greatly crimi-
^ nal ; they are a profanation of a moft holy ceremony,
' and generally end in difquiet and mifery ; for furely we

* may call it a profanation, to convert this moft facrdd

* iaftitution into a wicked facrifice to luft or avarice :r
« and what b;!tter can be faid of thofe matches to which

* men are induced merely by the conlideration of a- beau-'

* tifivl perfoni or a great fortune !

< To deny that beauty is an agreeable objeft- to the eye,
^ and even worthy fome admiration, would be falfe antf

* fboliih. Beautiful is an epithet often ufed in- fcrip-'
' ture^ and always mentioned with honour. It was my^
*• own fortune to marry a woman whom the world thought
« hand fame ; and. I can: truly fay, I liked her the better

* on that account. But to make this thefoleconfideratioa

* of marriage, to luft after it fo violently as to overlook.
*- all imperkdions for its fake, of to require it fo abfolutely

* as to rejedl anddifdalh religion, virtue,, and fenfe, which.
*• are q;ualitie3, in their nature, of much higher perfedlion,

* only bccaufc an\plegance of perfon is wanting ; this is:

< furely inconfiftent, either with a wife man or a good

* Chriilian. And it isr, perhaps, being toa charitable to
« conclude, that fuch perfons mean any thing more by their

* marriage, than to pleafe their carnal appetites ; for the

< fatisfadlion. of which,* vsre , are taught,, it was nol p
^ ordained.

* In the next place, with rcfpe£t qr fortune. World-

* ly prudence, perhaps, exadls fome confuhration- on this

* head ; nor will I abfolutely and altogether condemn it.

* As the world is conftituted, the demands of a married

< ftate, and the care of pollerity, require fome little rc-
« gard to- what we call circumfbances. Yet this provi-
«- uon is greatly increafed, beyond what is really necef-
♦; fary, by folly and vanity, which a-eate abundantly
f", more wants than nature. Equipage fn- the wife, and
^ layge fortunes for the children, are by cu^om. inrolled
*. in the liii of necclfaries ; and, to procure tiiefej, every

i#.":^^:

39 The H I S T O R Y of a Book t

^^thing truly folld and fweet, and virtuous and religious^
^are neglcAed and overlooked.

* And this in many degrees ; the lafl and greateft of

* which feems fcarce diiiinguifhable from madnefs* I

* mean where perfons of immenfe fortunes contra6l theih-

* felvcs to thofe who are, and muft be, difagreeable to

* them ; to fools and knaves, in order to increafe an

* eftate, already larger even than the demands of their

* pleafures. Surely fuch perfons, if they will not be

* thought mad, muft own, either that they are incapable

* of tailing the fweets of the tendereft friendfliip, or that

* they facrifice the greateft happinefs of which they are

* capable^- to the vain, uncertain, and fenfelefs laws of

* vulgar opinion, which owe as well their force, as their

* foundation, to folly.*

Here Allworthy concluded his fermon, to which Blifil
had liftencd with the profoundeft attention, though it coft
him fome pains to prevent now and then a fmall difcompofure
of his mufcles. He now praifed every period of what he
Lad heard, with the warmth of a young divine, who hath
the honour to dine with a bifhop the fame day in which his
Xiordfhip hath mounted the pulpit.

C H A P. XIII.

Jf/jJc/y conciitdes the firfl hook ; nvith an injiance of-'tngra'
titiuiey ivhichy ive hope^ *will appear unnatural^

T*H E reader, from what hath been faid, may imagine^
that the reconciliation (if indeed it could be fo
called) was only matter of form ; we fhall therefore pafs
it over, and haften to what muft furely be thought matter
of fubftaiice.

The do6lor had acquainted his brother with what had .
paft between Mr Allworthy and him ; and added with a
fmile, * I promifc you, I paid you ofF; nay, I abfolutely

* defircd the good gentleman not to forgive you : for

* you know, after he had made a declaration in your fa-

* vour, I might with fafety venture on fuch a requeft'

* with a man of his temper; and I was willing, as well |j
' for your like as for my ov.'n, to prevent the leaft pofii-,|

^ billty of :x /ii/picioii.^ : j'

Chap. 13. FOUNDLING. 39

. Captain BHfil took not the Icaft notice of this, at th^
time ; but he afterwards made a very notable ufe of it.

One of the maximS which the devil, in a late vifit upon
earth, left to his difciples, is, when once you are got up, to
kick the ftool from under you. In plain Engfifli, whett
you have made your fortune by the good offices of a friend,
you are advifed to difcard him as foon as you <;an.

Whether the captain adled by this maxim, I will not
pofitively determine ; fo far we may coniidently fay, that
his a6lion8 may be fairly derived from this diabolical prin-
ciple ; and indeed it is difficult to affiorn any otlier motive
to them : for no fooner was he pofleffed of Mifs Bridget,
and reconciled to Allworthy, than he began to fhew a
coldnefs to his brother, which increafed daily ; till at
length it grew into rudenefs, and became very vifible to e-
very one.

The do6lor remonftrated to him privately concerning
this beJiaviour, but could obtain no other fatisfa^^ion than
the following plain declaration : * If you diflike any thing
* in my brother's houfe. Sir, you know you are at liberty
< to quit it.' This ftrange, cruel, and almoft unaccounta-
ble ingratitude in the captain, abfolutely broke the poor
doctor's heart : for ingratitude never fo thoroughly pierce*
the hun^an breaft, as when it proceeds from thofe in whofe
behalf we have been guilty of tranfgrefrions. Pvcfledlions
on great and good a£rions, however tliey are received or
returned by thofe in whofe favour they are performed, al-
ways adminiiUn* fome comfort to us ; but what confolati-
~on fhall we reci'iv^e under fo biting a calamity as the uift
grateful behaviour of our friend, when our wounded con*
icience at the fame time flies in our face, and ubraids ud
with having fpotted it in the fervice of one fo worthlefs ?

Mr Allworthy himfclf fpoke to the captain in his bro-
ther's behalf, and de fired to know what offence the dodlor
bad committed ; when the hard-hearted villaiij had the
bafcnefs to fay, that he flioukl never forgive him for th^
iryury which he had endeavoured to do him in his favour |
\diich, lie faid, he liad pumped oTit of him, and was fuch
« cruelty, that it ought not to be forgiven.

' "Iwoithy fpoke in very high, terms upgn this decla-
li^jiifij^^W^tch, he faid, became not a human creature* Ha
cim|^pfxadced, fo .much idcxvlm^xxX. ^^vs\^ '^'a.

40 The H I S TO R Y of a Book I

giving temper, that the captain at laft pretended to be
convinced by his arguments, and outwardly profefied to
be reconciled.

As for the bride, fhe was now in her honey-moon, and
fo paflionatcly fond of her new hu/band, that he never ap-
peared to her to be in the wrong ; and his difpleafure a-
gaiiift any perfon was a fufficient reafon for her diflike to
the fame.

The captain, at Mr AUworthy's- inftance,. was out-
wardly, as we have faid, reconciled to his- brother, yet
the fame rancour remained in his heart ; and he Sound fo
many opportunities of giving him private hints of this^
that the houfe at laft grew infupportable to the poor doc-
tor ; that he chofe rather to fubmit to any inconveniencies
which he might encounter in the world, thanlonger to bear
thefc cruel and ungrateful infults, from a brother for whonv
he had done fo much.

He once intended to acquaint Allworthy with the
whole ;xbut he could not bring himfclf to fubmit to the
confeflion, by which he muft take to his fhare fo great a
portion of guilt. Befides, by how much the Avorfe man
he reprefentcd Iiis brother to be, fo much tiie greater,,
would his own offence appear to Allworthy, and lo much
the greater he had reafon to imagine, would be his rq-
fentment.

He feigned therefore,, fome excufe of bulinefs for hh
departure, and promifed to return foon again ; and took
leave of his brother with fo well-diflemblcd coutent, that,
as the captain played his part to the fame perfection, AIl-
worthy remained well fatisfied with the truth of the recon-
ciliation.

The dc6lor went diredly to London, wliere he died
foon after of a broken heart ; a diftemper which kills many
more than is generally imagined, and would have a faia*
title to a place in the bill of mortality, did it not differ in
one inftance from all other difeafes, viz. That no phyfici-
cian can cure it.

Now, upon the moft diligent inquiry into the forme?
lives of thefe two brothers, I find,, befides the curfed and;
helllfh maxim of policy above mentioned, another reafoi
/or the captain's condudl ; the captain, befides what w
Fe before hid of him, was a laaa oi ^\<i^V -^xvds. -jlw

C3iap. 13/ FOUNDLING. 41

fierccnefs, and had always ti^eat^ his brother, who was
of a different complexion, and greatly deficient in bofh
thofe qfialities, with the utnioft air of fujfcriorifcy. The
do£lor, however, had much the larger (hare of learning,
and was by many reputed to have the better underftanding.
This the captain knew, and could not bear ; for thougn
enyy is, at beft, ^ very malignant pafGon, yet is its bittcr-
nefe gi-eaily- heightened, by mixing with contempt towards
the fame obje£l ; and very much afraid I am, that whene-
ver an obligation is joined, to thefe two, indignation^ and
not gratitude, will b^ theprodud of. all three.

:...:•-: J

.1. r 1//

^4:

T HE

H I S T O R Y

F A

' ' '

FOUND LING.:

B a o i^ 11. - ' ^

Containing fcenes of matrimonial felicity indifferent de-
grees rf life : and various other tranfaStions during
thefirjl two years after the marriage between Gap»
tain Blifili and Mifs Bridget Mworthy.

C H A P. L

She*wing ^hat kind of a hijlory this is ; nuhat it is lihf ani
luhat it is not like,

THOUGH we have preperly enough mtitled this
our work a hiftory, and not a life, nor an apology
for a life, as is more in faftiion ; yet we intend in*
it rather to purfue the method of thofe writers who profefs
to difclofc the revolutions of countries, than to imitate the
painful and volumnious hiftorian, who, to preferve the re-
gularity of his feries, thinks himfelf obliged to fill up aff
much paper with the detail of months and years in which J
nothing remarkable happened, as he employs upon thofe
notable aeras when the greateft fcenes have been tranfa<5led .
on the human flage.

Such hiftories as thefe do, in reality, very much refem-
ble a news-paper, which confifts of juft the fame num«
ber of words, whether there be any news in it or not.
They may likewife be compared to a ftage-coach, which
performs conflantly the fame courfe, empty as well as fulL
The writer, indeed, feems to think himfelf obliged to keep
even pace with time, whofe amanuenfis he is ; and, like
his mafler, travels as flowly through centuries of monkifl|ii4
du\uds, wlitn the world feems to have been afleep, ai '

Ckp* I. FX) U N D L I N G. ^ ^ 43'

thtough thai bright atid bufy age JTo nobly diftinguifhcd by
the excellent Lettin poet :

■* Ad ctmfltgendum venhntihns unJiqtte pcenis ;

* Omnia cum belli trepido concufa ttimultu

' * Horridd contremuere ftth altis atheris auris :
'* In duhioque fuit fub utrorum regna cadendum

* Omnibus hmnanis effety terraqtte marique.

Of whfch we wifh we could give our reader a more ade-
quate trauQation than that by M. Creech,

* When dre^adful Carthage frighted Rome *with arms^
^ And all the ivorld *wi!is Jfhook 'with fierce alarms !

^ JVhilft undecided yety ijdich part Jhoiild fall^
■'■*' Which nation rife the glorious lord of all.

Now it is our parpofe, in the enfuing pages, to pur-
ine a contrary method. When any extraordinary fcene
prefents itfelf, (as we truil will often be the cafe),^ ^'c fhall
fpare no pains nor paper to open it at large to our reader ;"
but if whole years ftiould pafs without producing any thing
worthy his notice, we fhall not be afraid of a chafm in Our
hiftory ; but fliall haften On to matters of confequence, and
leave fuch periods of time totally unobferved.
• Thefe are iirfeed to be confidered as blanks in the grand
lottery of time. We therefore, who are the regifters of
tibat lottei-y, fhall imitate thofe fagacious^perfons who deal
in that which is drawn at Guildhall*, and vvho never trouble
•the public with the many blanks they difpofe of; but when
a great prize happens to be drawn, the news-papers are
^refently filled with it, and the world is fure to be informed
sX whoTe office it was fold : indeed, commonly two or three
•different oihccs lay claim to the honour of having difpofed,
,ofit; by which, I fuppofe, the adventurers are given to
Uliderftand that certain brokers are in the fecrcts of fortune,,
.and indeed of her criblnet-council.

Mjr rcadei- then is not to be furprifed, if, in the courfe
jdf^^h work, he faall find fome chapters very fhort, and
XJiJMeri^ altogether as long ; fome that contain only the
•^^M^^jkv^^^ day, and olhevs tWt coyk^xM^ ^^"^^t^N '^>\
>i«^i||i;#--fi^^ fcmetmvcs k'im'ss V'^ '^-^"^^^ '^^^ "^"^^

'4^/5

44 * The H I S T O R Y ofa Bpokrll.

fpinetitnes ta fly. For all which, I (hall not look on .my*
felf as accountable to any court of .critical jurifdi^lion
whatever : for as I am, in reality, the founder of a new
province of writing, fo I am at liberty to make wh^t laws
I plcafe therein. And thefe laws, my readers, whom I
confider as my fubjecEls, are bound to l>clieve in sand to *o-
bey ; with which that they may readily and chearfiilly
comply, I do hereby alTure them, that I fhall princi-
pally regard their eafe and advantage in all fuch inlli-
ftutifins ; for 1 do nut, like a Ju/r divmo tyrant^ 'ni>-
gine that they are my (laves, or my commodity. .1 am,
indeed, fet over thcrn, for thtir own good only, and was
created for their uie, and not they for mine. Nor do I
doubt, while I make their inter jit the gr,eat rule of my
writings, they will unanimouHy concur in fupporting my
dignity, and in rendering me all the honour I fnail de-
fer ve or defire.

CHAP. II.

Religiotu cautions agabift Jhevohig too much favour to haf'
. tards ;^ Gn(l a great dijcovery made by Mrs Deborah
. WUkins.

^^ Va ^^""^ months after the celebration of the nuptials
Kj between captain Blifil and Mifs Bjidget Allwor-
thy, a young lady of great beauty, meflt, and fortune,'
was Mifs Bridget, by reafon of a fright, delivered of a
fine boy. The child vtaa indeed, to all appearance, per-
feft ; but the midewife difcovered it was born a month
before its full time.

Though the birth of an heir of his beloved fifler was a
circumftance of great joy to Mr Allwortby, yet it did not
alienate his affe^fl^ons from the little foundling, to whom
he had been god-father, had given his ov/n name of Tho-
mas, and Wiiom he had hitherto feldom failed of vifit-
ing, at leaf: once a-day, in his nurfery.

He told i lis fifter, if fhe plealcd, the new-born infant

fhould be bred up together with little Tommy, to wlwch

file confented, though with fome little reludctuice : for

/he had truly a great complacence for htr brother ; and

hence (he had aJways behaved towavd^ \Ji\^ iovmCiiwv'^^ \Vy\.\\

FOUNDLING. ^\47

ber more kindnefs than ladles of rigid virtue can fome^
^bring themfelve* to fhew thefe children, who, how-
Qocent, may be truly called the Jiving monuments
Ifence.

btain could not fo eafily bring bimfelf to bear
Bnden^fied as a fault in Mi All worthy. " He gave
jient hints, that to adopt the fruits .of fin, was
:> countenance ta it. He quoted feveral texts, (for
well read in Scripture), fuch as, He vifits the
if the, fathers upon the children ; and The fathers have
n four grapes^ and the chlldrens teeth are fet on edge^
Sec, ; whence he ?j*gued the legality of punifhing the crime
of the parent on the baftard. He faid, Though the law
did not poiitively allow the deftroying fuch bafe born chil-
dren, yet it held them to be the children of no body ; that^
the church confidered them as the children of no body ;
and that, at the belt, * they ought to be brought up to

* the lowell and vileft offices of the common wealtn.'

Mr Allworthy anfwered to all this, and much more,
which the captain had urged on this fubje<5l, * That how-

* ever guilty the parents might be, the children were cer-.
*- tainly innocent : that as to the texts he had quoted, the

* fbrmer of them was a particular denunciation againlj;

* the Jews for the fin of idolatry, 'of relinquilhing andhat-

* ing their heavenly King ; and the latter was paraboli-

* cally fpoken, and rather intended to denote the cer-

* tain and necefiary confequences of fin, than any exprefs

* judgment againft it. But to reprefent the Almighty

* as- avenging the fins of the guilty on the innocent was

* indecent, if not blafphemous, as it was tQ^ reprefent him

* acting againft the firft principles of natural jullice, and

* againft the original notions of right and wrong, which
•^ hehimfclfhad implanted In our minds, by which -we

* were to judge, not only in all matters which werfe

* not revealed, but even of the truth of revclatioR. i^

* felf. He faid, he knew many held the fame prit^cl^s
^ with the captain on this head ; but he was himfclr firm-

* ly convinced to the contrary, and would provide in

* the fame manner for -this poor infant, as if a Icgili-

* mate cliild had h^id the fortune to'have been found in the

* fame place.' «

While the captain was takii|g e.U o'2^o\l\\Tv\%.\sr. X'^ N;jt<^^
Vol, I. J?

The H I S T O R Y of # Book ll

hefe and fuch like arguments, to remove the little found-j
Kng from Mr Allworthy's, of whofe fondnefs for him ha
began to be jealous, Mrs Deborah had made a difcovcryj
which in its event, threatened at leaft to prove more fat
to poor Tommy than all the reafonings of the capain.

Whether the infatiable curiofity of thf^ good womad
had carried her on to that bufinefs, or whether fhe did
it to confirm hcrfelf in the good graces oT Mrs Blifill
who, notwithftanding her outward behaviour to thi
foundling, frequently abufed the infant in private, anq
her brother too for his fondnefs to it, I will not deterf
^nine ; but fhe had now, as (he conceived, fully detedw
the father of the foundling.

Now, as this was a difcovery of great confequence,
may be neceffary to trace it from the fountain -Kead. Wl
fhall therefore very minutely lay open thofe previous matJ
ters by which it was produced ; and for that purpofc '
fhall be obliged to reveal all the fecrets of a little family
with which my reader is at prefent entirely unacquaintJ
ed, and of which the ceconomy was fo rare and extrao
dinary, that I fear it will (hock the utmoft credulity i
many married perfon*.

CHAP. IIL

T'Z^ defcripthn of a domeftic governmenty founded
rules dire^ly contrary to thofe of Ariflotle,

MY reader may pleafe to remember he hath bee
formed, that Jenny Jones had lived fome ^
with a certain fchoolmafter, who had, at her earneft
iirc, inftrudled her in Latin, in which, to do juftie
her genius, (lie had fo improved herfelf, that (he was
come a better fcholar-than her mafter.
'" Indeed, though this poor man had undertaken a
feflion to which learning muft be allowed neceffary,
was the leaft of his commendations. He was one o

'beft-natured fellows in the world, aildM'as, at fhe
time mailer of fo much pleafantry and humour, thr
was reputed the wit of the country j and all the n^
bouring gentlemen were fo delirous of Ws company,

^3 denying v/as iiot his talent, be f^eut much tivtn

cftp. J. FOUNDLING. • 47

their h<ntt&^ which he might, vnth more emolument have
fpcnt in bis fchool.

It -may be ioiagui^dy that a gentleman fo qualified, and
fo difpofed» wai in mo danger of becoming formidable to
the learned feminaries of Eton or Weftminlter. To fpealc
plzunly, his fcholars were divided into two clafles ; in the
upper of which was a young gentleman, the fon of a
neighbouring Tquire, who at the age of feventeen was juil
entered into his fyntaxis ; and in the lower was a fecond
fon of the fame gentleman, who, together with feven pa-
riih boys, was learning to read and write.

The ftlpend arifmg hence would hardly have indulged
the fchocJlmafter in the luxuries of life, had he not add-
ed to this office thofe of clerk and barber, and had not
Mr Allworthy added to the whole an annuity of ten
pound, which the poor man received every Chriftmas, and
with which he was enabled to chear his heart during that
iacred feilival.
. AmoBg l^^ other treafures, the pedagogue had a wife
^ whoftt- he had married out of I4x All worthy's kitchea
^ for her fortune, viz. twenty pound, which (he had there
amaffed.

This woman was not very amiable in her perfon. Whe-
, ther (he fat to my friend Hogarth or no, I will not deter-
L mine ; but (he exactly refembled the young woman w\\o
is pouring out her naiftrefs*» tea in the third pifture o£ the
|; Harlot's Progrefs. She was, befides, a profefs'd follower
L of that noble fe£l founded by Xantippe-of old; by means
-of which (he became more formidable in the fchool than her
Aufoand ; forj to confefs the truth, he was nevCr maftcr
, there, or any where elfe in her prefence.

Though her countenance did not denote much natural
\ fweetnefs of temper, yet this was, perhaps, fomewhat
fqured by a circumilance which generally poifons matri-
monial felicitjTjL for children are nghtly called the pledges
of love I ^IH^F^r hulhand, though they had been mar-
<^e4 nine years, had given her no' fuch pledges ; a default
jfor which he had no cxcufe, either from age or health,
^^ing not yctt thirty years old, and what they call a jolly,
brifty young man.

,: Btence-arofe- another evil, which produced no little un-
j^3i&^j^ to the poor pedagogue, of vflv^im (Sx^ \QJ\^s^w^^s^sL^

43 ^ The . PI I S T O R Y of a Book IlJ

fo conftant a jealoufy, that he durft hardlyfpeak to one
v/oman in the parl/h ; for the leafl degree of civility, ot
tvtii corrtfpordence with any femaje, was fure to bring
ills wifi upon her back and his own.'

In order to guard herfelf againll matrimonial injurii
in her own houfe, as fhe kept one maid- fcrvant, . fhe al-
ways took care to chufe her out of that order of femalei
wLofe faces are taken as a kind of lecurity for their virtue ;
of wliicli number Jenny Jones, bs the reader hath been
litfore informed, was one.

As the face of this young woman might be called prct*
ty good fcGurity of the before-mentioned kind, and ^s
iier behaviour had been always extremely modcll, which
is the ccrtainvconfequencc of underllanding in women;
ihe had palled above four years at Mr Partridge's (for
that WES the fchooLr.afler*s name) without creating die
Icall fulpicion in l;cr miilreis. Nay, (he had been treated
with uncommon kindefs, and her milhefs had permitted
Mr Partridge to give her thcfe inftru<5tions which have
been before commtmoratcd.

But it is with jealoufy, as with the gout. When fuch
diftenTipers are in the blood, there is never any fecurity a-
gainil their breaking out ; and that often on the llightefl:
occaiions, and when leaft fuvfpedled.

Thus it happened to Mrs Partridge, who had fubrait-
ted four years to her hufband's teacting this young wo-
man, and -had fufTered hcf often to negledl her work, ia
order to purfue her learning. For palTing by one day, m-
ihe girl was reading, ?nd her matter leaning ever her, the
gill, I know net for what reafon, fuddenly darted up
from her chair ; and this was the firft time that fufpicioa
ever entered itito the head of her miftrefs.

This did not, however, at that time, difcover itfelf, but
lay lurking in her mind, like a concealed enemy, whoj
waits for a reinforcement of additional flrq)gth, before he
openly declares himfelf, an4 proceeds upon hoftile ope-
rations : and fuch additional llrength foon arrived to cor- ^\
roberate' her fuljpicion : for not long after, the hufbani^ii
and wife being at dinner, the mafter laid to his maid. Da
vjihi alipud potupi : upon which the poor girl fmiled, pcr-i
haps at the badnefs of the Latin ; and when her miilrefs^^
. call her eyes on her, bkiftied, poflibly with the confciouf^^-i

Chap. $. FOUNDLING.- \5<

liefa of having laughed at her maftcr. Mrs Partridge up^
this immediately fell into a fury, and ^fefcarged the"^
trencher, on which fhe was eating, at the head of poor ^
Jenny,, crying out, * You impudent whore, do you play
^ tricks with my hufband before my face ?'' and, at the
fai^e inftant, rofe from her chair, with a knife in her
hand, with which, moil probably fhe would h^e executed
very tragical vengeance, had not the girl taken the advan-
tage of being nearer the door than her miftrefs, and avoid-
ed her fury by running away ; for, as to the poor hufband,
whether furprife had rendered him motionlefs, or fear
(which is full as probable) hadreftrained him from ventur-
ing at any oppoiition, he fat flaring and trembling in hi»
chair ; nor did he once offer to move or fpeak, till his wife^
returning from the purfuit of Jenny, made fome defenfive
meafures necefTary for his own prefervation, and he likewife
was obliged to retreat, after the example of the maid.

This good woman v^ras, no more tlian Othello, of a dif-
pofition>

To make allfeofjealoufyy ^

* And folloii) Jilll the changes of the moon

* With frejhfttfpicioni :'

With her as well as him.

^ To he once in douhf^.

* JVas once to he refolv*d .-'-

file, therefore, ordered Jenny immediately to pack up her
alk, and be gone ; for that fhe was determined fhe fhould
noti fleep that night within her walls.

Mr Partridge had pi-ofited too much by experience, to
ioterpofe in a matter of this nature.. He therefore had re-
CGturfe to hi^ ufual receipt of patience ; for, though he was
not a great adept in lyxtm, he rqnembered, and well un-
dierftood, the adsice contained in mefe words : .

-Levejit,, quod hene fertur onus.*

'. Ir.Englifhi < A burden te«»|Bigji-%Ktefl, wbe& {t is

The HISTORY ofa

Book

fiVliich he had always in his mouth ; and of which, to'
the truth, he had often occafion to experience the tiiith.

Jenny offered to make proteftatioha cf her innoceDc<?|
but the tempeft was too flrong for her to be heai-d. Shi
then betook herfelf td the bulinefs of packing, for whici
a fmall quantity of brown paper fufficed ; and, having Y
eeived her fmall pittance of wages, fhe returned home.

The fchoolmafter and his confort paffed their time un
pleafantly enough that evening; but fomething or othd
happened before the next morning, which a little abate
the fury of Mrs Partridge ; and flie at length admitted 1
huiband to make his excufes. To which (he gave the n
dicr belief, as he had, inftead of defiring her to recal Jen
ny, profefled a fatisfa6lion iij her being difmifTed, faying
fhe was grown of little ufe as a fervant, fpending all ht
time in reading, and was become, moreover, very pert an
cbftinate : for, indeed, flie and her mafter had lately ha
frequent difputes in literature ; in which, as hath been faid
(he was become greatly liis fuperior. This, however,
would by no means allow ; and, as be called her perfiflini
in the right, obflinacy, he began to hate her with no ;'
inveteracy. ^

C H A P. IV.

Containing one of the nioji bloody battles y or rather duels ^ tha
^ere ever recorded in domeftic hijfory,

17* OR the reafons mentioned in the preceding chapte
and from fome other matrimonial concemons, we|
known to moft hufbands, and which, like the fecrets
. free-mafoniy, fhould be divulged to none who arc nci
members of that honourable frattrnlty, Mrs Partridge wal
pretty well fatisfied that fhe had condemned her hufbanl
without caufe, and endeavoured, by afts of kindnefs, tl
make him amends for her falfe fufpicion. Her pafBonl
were, indeed, equally violent, which ever way they inclinl
cdt for, as fhe could be extremely angry, fo could flic "
altogether as fond.

But though thefe pafiGons ordinarily fucceed each <
ther, and fcarce twenty-four hours ever paffed in whtd
the peiJagogae was i¥)t; ia fome degree, the objeft c

CKap; 4. K O U N D L I N G. 5<

both; ycti oneitdlordinary occafions, w!icn the paffion
of aoger had raged yiery high the remiffion was ufiially .
•longer ; and fp was the cafe at prefent ; - for (he continu-
ed longer in a flate of affabih'ty, after this fit of jealoufy
was ended, than her hufband had ever known before ;
and, had it not4>eeen for fome little exercffcB, which all
the followers of Xantippe are obliged to perform daily >
Mr Partridge would have enjoyed a perfe6k ferenity of
gveralmondis. : )

gerfe^ calms at fea are - always fufpe^ed by the expe-
" mariner to be the fore-runners of a liorm'i and
1 fome pcrfdns who, withont being generally, the
nof fuperftition, are apt to apprehend, that great
kil peace and tranquility will be attended with its
For which reafon the ancients ufed, on fuch^
to facrifice to the goddefs Nemclis ; a deity?
as thought by them to rook with an invidious eye
mman felicity, and to have a peculiar delight in over-
ing it.
As we are very far from believing in any fuch Heathen
goddefs, or from encouraging any fuperftition, fo we

wifh Mr John Fr , or fome other fuch philofopher^

■would beftir himfelf a • little, in order to find out the real
caufeofthis fudden tranfition from good tojhad fortune,
which hath been fo often remarked, and of w||itch we (hall
proceed to give an inftance ; for it is our pi^ovince to relate
fadls, and we fliall leave caufesto perfons of much higher,
genius.

Mankind have always taken great delight in knowing
and defcanting on the adlions of others. Hence there
have been, in all ages and nations^ certain places fet a-^
part for public rendezvous, where the- cUrious might
meet, and fatii?fy ihtir nfutual curiofity. Amorig >jthefc, -
the -barbers (hops have juftly borne the pre-eminence.
Among the Greeks, barbers ne^s was a proverbial ex-
pfeffion* and Horace, in one of his epillles, jnake.8 ho-
ttQq&lbl^ fi^^ntton of the Roman ^rbers in the fame light.
^ r.3%^fepf.'JSnglaDd are known to be no wife inferior jto
tMS^&5^^ ;or Roman predecefib rs . Yo u there fee foreig n
•*^a-r^^l^ a manner little inferior to thattetfc
fr-Ktt handled in the colTee houfes 5 and doiwny
jsiia^itxt much inore W^e\>j_^\A^^5^^xts^'^^

■ -V*

S% The H I S T O R Y of a Book 11;

in the fonnef, than in the latter. But this ferves 6nh^
, for the men. Now, whereas the females of thia caim*'
try, efpecially . thofe of the lower order, do- aflbciate
themfelves much more than thofe of other nations, our
polity would be highly deficient, if they had not fome
place fet apart likcwife for the indulgence of thdr curi-
ofity, feeing they are in this no way inferior to the other
half of the ipeqies. ;

In enjoying, therefore, fuch place of readezvous, the
Brkifti teir 'csught to efteem themfelves more happy than
any of their foreign filler's ; as I do not remember either
to have read in hiftory, or to have feen in my travcls,^
any thing of the like kind.

This plape then is no other than the <:handler*s Shopp
the known feat of all the news ; or, as it is julgarly
called, goffiping, in every parifh in England.

Mi's Partridge being one day at this affembly of fc-f •
males, was alked by one of her neighbours, if fhe had
heard no news lately of Jenny Jones ? To which (he an*
fwered in the negative. Upon this the other replied, with
a fmile, That the pari fli was very much obliged to her
for having turned Jenny away as (he dfd.
' Mrs Partridge, whofe jealoufy, as t^e reader well
knows, waf^ng fince cared, and who had no other quar-'
rel to her Ijpt^ anfAxred boldly, (he did not know any
obligation the1jferi(h had to her on that account j for (he
l^lie ved Jenny^d fc*arcQ left her equal behind her.

* No, truly, faid the gofTip, * I hope not, though I

< fancy we have fluts. enow too. Then you have not

* heard, it feems, that (he hath been brought to bed of

* two baftards ; but as they are not born here, my huf-

* band, and the other overfeer, fays, we (liall not be obli-

* ged to keep them.'

* Two baftards !* anfwered Mrs Paitridge haflily,

* you furprife me* I don't know whether we mull keep -

< • them ; but I am fure they mull have been begotten here ;
' * for the wench hath noti)een nine months gone away.'

Nothing can be fo quick and fudden as the operations '
of the mind, efpecially, when hope, or fear, or jealoufy^
to which the two others are but journeymen, fet it to -
vrork. It occurred inflantly to her, that Jenny had fcarce^
^ver been, out o£ her own houfe while (he iivtd with hev-:

Chap. 4, F O U N. D L I N G. S5

The leaning oi'er the chair, the fuddcn ftarting up, the
L.»tin, the linile,' and many other things, riiihed upon her
z\\ at once. The fatisfadlion her hufband exprefl'ed in
the departure of Jenny,, appeared now to be only dif-
fcmblcd : again, in the fame inftant, to be real ; but yet
(to confirm her jealoufy) proceeding from faticty^ and
a hundred other bad caufes. In a word, (he was convin-
ced of her hufband's guilt, and immediately left the af-
fembly it\ confufion.

As fair Grimalkin, who, though the youngeft of the
Feline family, degenerates not in ferocity from the elder
branches of her houfe, and though inferior in (Irength,
is equal in fiercencfs to the nobler tyger himfelf, when a
little moufe, whom it hath long tormented in fport, e-
fcapes from her clutches, for a while frets, fcolds, growls,
fwears ; but if the trunk, or box, behind which the moufe
lay hid, be again removed, ftie flies like lightening on her
prey, and, with envenomed wrath, bites, fcratches^
mumbles, and tears the little animal :

Not with lefs fury did Mrs Partride fly on the poor
pedagogue. Her tongue, teeth, and hands, fell upon him
at ouce. His wig was in an inftant torn from his head,
his fliirt from his back, and from his face defcended five
ilreams of blood, denoting the number of claws with which
nature had unhappily anned the enemy.

Mr Partridge a6ted for fome time on the defenfive on-
ly ; indeed he attenripted only to guard his face with his
hands : but as he found that his antagonift abated no-
thing of her rage, he thought he might, at leaft,* endea-
vour to difarm her, or rather to confine her arms; in
doing which, her cap fell off in the ftruggle, and her
hair being too (hort to reach her fhoulders, erected itfelf
on her head ; her flays likewife, which were laced through
one fingle hole at the bottom, burft open ; and her
breafts, which were much more redundant than her hair,
hung down below her middle ; her face was likewife mark-
ed with the blood of her hufband ; her teeth gna(hed with
rage ; and fire, fuch as fparkle from a fmith's forge,
darted from her eyes. So that altogether, this Amazonian
Ueroine might have been an objedt of teiTor to a much bold-
>er man than Mr Partridge.
,. . Jic had .at kngth the good fortaut, b^ ^«t\\.\Ci5j^^^'5^-

■'^ti^ .^"7 '^^'.'

54 The H I S T O R Y of a ^ Book 10

; lion of her arms, to render thofe weapons, which (he worei

* at the ends of her fingers, ufelefs ; which fhe no foonef ,

perceived, than the foftnefs of her fex prevailed over her

rage, and (he prefently diifolved in tears, which foon a|ber

cpncluded in a fit.

Tliat fmall Ihare.of fenfe which Mr Partridge had hi-
therto preferved through this fcence of fury, of the caufc
of which he was hitherto ignorant, now /Utterly aban-
doned him. He ran inftantly into the ilreet, hallooing
out,* that his wife was in the agonies of death, and be-
feeching the neighbours to fly with the utmoft hafte to
her slffiftance. Several good women obeyed his fummons,
.who^entering his houfe, and applying the ufual remedies on
fuch occafions, Mrs Partridge was, at length, to the
great joy of her hufband, brought to herfelf.
. As fobn as fhe had a Kttle recollefted her fpirits, aii4
fomewhat compofed herfelf with a cordial, fhe began t^;,^
inform the company of the manifold injuries fhe had re-
ceived from her hufband; who, fhe faid^ was content!
edto injure her in her bed ; but, upon her upbraiding tijail
with it, had treated her in the cruelefl manner imar
ginable ; had torn her cap and hair from her head, and
her flays from her body, giving her, at the fame timei.
feveral blows, the marks of which fhe fhould carry to th"%
grave. . l>

The poor man, who bore on his face many and mow
vifible marks of the indignation of his wife, flood in &^ {
lent aftonifhment at this adcufation ; which the read^ ?
will, P believe, bear wit ncfs for him, had greatly exceed- !
ed the truth ; for indeed he had not flruck her once ; and'^
this filence being interpreted to be a confeflion of the i
charge, by the whole court, they all began at once, una
vocej to rebuke and revile him, repeating often, that lioac
but a coward ever flruck a wonjaa, r i

Mr Partridge bore all this patiently; but when hit J
wife appealed to the blood on her face, as an evidence ^]
of his barbarity, he could not help laying claim to his ■
own blood, for fo it really was ; as he thought it very^lj
.unnatural, that this fhould rife up (as we are taught thii^
of a murdered perfon often doth) in vengeance againft^
him. :;|r

To this the women made no other anfwer, than tbafc^

Chap. y. FOUNDLING. 5^

it wad pity it had not come from his heart, inflead of
his face ; all declaring, that if their hufbands fhould lift
their heads againft them, they wonld have their hearts
blood out of their bodies,

• After much admonition for what was pad, and much
good advice to Mr Partridge for his future behaviour, the "
company at length departed, and left the hufband and
wife to a perfonal conference together, in which Mr Par-
tridge foon learned the caufe of all his fuiferings.

C H A R V.

Containing much matter to exercife the judgment and re»
fte£iion of the reader*

I Believe it is a true obfervation, that few fecrets are
divulged to one perfon only ; but certainly it would
be next to a miracle, that a fadl of this kind (hould be
known to a whole parifh, and not tranfpire any farther.

'" And, indeed, a- veiy few days had pail, before the
country, to ufe a common phrafe, rang of the fchool-
mafter of Little -Baddington ; who was faid to have
beaten his wife in tlie moll cruel manner. Nay, in fome
places, it was reported he had murdered her ; in others,
that he had broke her arms ; in others, her legs ; in fliort»
there was fcarce an* injury which can be done to a human
creature, but what Mrs Partridge was foraewhere or other
affirmed to have received from her hufband.

The caufe of this quarrel was likewife varioufly reported ;
for, as fome people faid that Mrs Partridge had caught
her hufband in bed with his maid, fo many other realbns
of a very different kind, went abroad. Nay, fome trans-
ferred the guilt to tlie wif(^, and the jealoufy to the huf-
band.

\ ) Mrs Wilkins had long ago heard of this quarrel ; but,

"us a different caufe from the true one had reached her
ears, fhe thought proper to conceal it ; and the rather,
perhaps, as the blame was univerfally laid on Mr fcw*-

. bridge ; and his wife, when fhe was fervant to Mr At^> , . #
Worthy, had- in fomething offended Mrs Wilkins, '^\M ^^-
iwas not of a very forgiving temper.
^ But Mrs Wilkins, whole eyes could C^c o^^O.^ ^X'*.

^6 The HISTORY of a Book IL

diftan<^, and who could very* well look forward a few
years into futurity, had perceived a ftrong likelihood of
Captain Blifil's being hereafter her mafter ; and, as fhe
plainly difcerned, that the captain bore no great good-
will to the little foundling, fhe fancied it would be r^n-
• dering him an agreeable fei-vice, if fhe could make any
difcoveries that might leflen the afFedlion which Mr All-
worthy feemed to have contradled for this child, and
which gave vifible uneafinels to the captain, whp could
not entirely conceal it even before All worthy himfelf;
though his wife, who adled her part much better in pu-
blic, frequently recommended to him her own example,
of conniving at the folly of her brother, which, flie fai(t
fhe at leaft as well perceived, and as much refentcd, as
any other poflibly could.

Mrs Wilkins having therefore, by accident, gotteo a
true fcent of the above ilory, though long after it had
happened, failed not to fatisfy herfelf thoroughly of all'
the particulars ; and then acquainted the captain, that
fhe had at laft: difcovered the true father of the litlle
baftard, which fhe was forry, flie faid, to fee her mafler
lofe his reputation in the country, by taking fo mudi
notice of it.

The captain chid her for the conclufion of her fpeechf
as an improper afTurancc i|i judging of her mailer's a'c?
tions : for if his honour, or his underflanding, would
have fufFered the captain to make an alliance with Mrs
Wilkins, his pride would by no means have admitted, it.
Arid, to fay the truth, there is no condu6: lefs politic,
than to enter into any confederacy with your friend^s
fervants, againll their mailer ; for, by thefe means,* yoij
afterwards become the flave of thefe very fervan^l^^^b^i
whom yon arc conllantly liable to be betrayed. And |h)$
coniideration, perhaps, it was which prevented Cap^^
Blifil from being more explicit with Mrs Wilkins^it^
from encouraging the abufe which fhe had bellowed i^W
Allworthy.

But though he declared no fatisfa£lIon to Mrs WiJl|i^
at this dlfccvery, he enjoyed not a little/ from it in his <^|gi
mind, and refolved to make the bed uf: oFJt he was a^l^'

He kept this matter a h)ng time concealed within hM
01VJ3 breail, in hopes that Mr Allv/aithy might hear fl

Chap. 5. FOUNDLING. 57

from fome other perfon ; but Mrs Wilkins, whether fhc
reiented the captain's behaviour, or whether his cunning
•was beyond hef, and fhe feared the difcovery might
difpkafe him, never afterwards opened her lips about the
niatter.

I have thought it fomewhat ftrange, upon reflediion,
that the houfekeeper never acquainted Mrs Bllftl with
this news, as women ard more inclined to communicate
■all pfeces of intelligence to their own fex, than to ours-
The only way, as it appears to me, of folving this dif-
ficulty, is by imputing it to that diilance which was novr
grown between the lady and the houfekeeper : whether
this arofe from a jealoufy in Mrs Blilil, that Wilkins
fhewed too great a refpedt to the foundling ; for while
^ (he was endeavouring to ruin the little infant, in order
to ingratiate herfelf with the captain, fhe was every day
more and more commending it before Allworthy, as his
fondnefs for it every day increafed. This, mytwithftand-
ingali' thef care fhie took at other times to expre's the
dire6l contrary to Mrs Blilil, perhaps oiFendcd that ^'^li-
cate lady, who certainly now hated Mrs Wilkins ; and
though (he did not, or, poilibly, could not abfolutdy re-
move her from her place, (lie found, however, the means
of making her life very uneafy. This Mrs Wilkins, at
length, fo refented, that (he very openly (hewed all manner
of refpecl and fondneis to little Tommy, in oppofition to
Mrs Blix^l.

The captain, therefore, finding the (lory in clanger of
pcrifhing, at laft took an opportunity to reveal it himfelf.
He wa|;One day engaged with Mr Allworthy h) a dif-
courfe 1!5ii charity; in which the captain, with great
learnirg, proved to Mr Allworthy, ^at the word charity
* "JSfripture no where means beneficence or generofity.
T^The Chriftiah religion,' he (aid, ' was inflitated
^i.niuch nobler purpofes, than to in force a leflon
'M'ttiany Heathen philofophers had taught as long
af*Vj 2nd which, though it might perhaps hd calleJ
mor^l virtue, favoured but- Lttle of that fnblirne
8irf4{4^-like difpofitlon, that vad elevation of thought
^l^uj^ty approaching to angelic perfedion, tosfce at-
S^^^acd, expreffed, and felt only by ^x^ce., ^\«^^^^
:jiiA^ ^ came nearer to the ScripUwe' mtiu\\\t\^^ \nW

^A The H I S T O R Y of a Book IL

< derftood by it candour, or the forming of a benevolent

* opinion of our brethren, and pafling a fiavourable judgment

< on their aftions ; a virtue much higher, and more ex^

* tenfive in its natiire, than a pitiful diilribution of alms,

* which, though we would never fo much prejudice, or

< even ruin our families, could never reacji many ; whereas

< charity, in the other and truer fenfe, might be extended
« to all mankind.'

He faid, * Confidering who the difciples were, it would

* he abfurd to conceive the doftrine of generofity, or giving

* alms, to have been preached to them. And, as we could

* not well imagine this do6lrine fhould be preached by its
« divine Author to men who could not pradife it, muck

* lefs ftiall we think it underftood fo by thofe who caj

* praftife it, and do not,

* But though,* continued he, * there is, I ani ^ afraid^

* little merit m thefe benefadlions ; there would, I muft
'* confefs, be much pleafure in them to a good mind, if it

* was not abated by one confideration : I mean, that we '
^ are liable to be impofed upon, and to confe;* our choi-

* ceft favours often on the undeferving, as yo^ muft own

* was your cafe in your bounty to that wortblefs fellow
^ Partridge : for two or three fuch examples muft great*

* ly leflenthe inward fatisfa^ion which a good man would

* otherw ife find in generofity ; nay, may ev/sn make him

* timorous in bellowing, lell he fhould be guilty of fupport*

* ing vice, and encouraging the wicked ; a crime of a very

* black dye, and for which it will by no means be a fuffi** li

* cient excufe, that we have not adlualjy intended fuch a^

* encouragement ; unlefs wx have ufcd the utmofl caution

* in chufmg the obje6is of our beneficence. A •onfidera*

* tion which, I make no doubt, hath greatly checked xh$

* liberality of many# )vorthy and pious man.'

Mr AUworthy anfwered, * He could not difpute vnxh'
•the captain in the Greek language, and therefore
•< fay nothing as to the true fcnfe of the word whidi

* tranflated charity ; but that he liad always thought il^

* w^as interpreted to confifl in adion, and that giving
^ alms conftituted at leail one branch of that virtue. 4

* As to the meritorious part, he faid, he readily agree^'
f with the captain j for where could be the merit of ba;

Chap. 5. FOUNDLING. sg

* ly difcliarging a duty, which, he faid, let the word

* charity have what conftraftion it would, it fufiicicntly
*■ appeared to be from the whole tenor of the New Tefta-

* meat ? And as he thought it an indifpenfable duty, in*

* joined both by the Chriftian law, and by the law of na-

* ture itfelf; fo was it withal fopleafant, tliat if aityduty

* could be faid to be its own reward, or to pay us while "

* we are difcharging It, it was this-

* To confefs the truth,* faid he, * there is one degree

* of generoiity (of charity I would have called it) which

* ieems to have fon^e (hew of nierit, and that is, where,
« from a principle of benevolence and Chriftian love, We

* beftow on another what we really want ourfelves ; where,

* in order to leflen the diftrefles of another, we qonde*

* fcend to (hare fome part of them, by giving what even

* our own neceflities cannot well fpare. This is, I think,

* meritorious ; but to relieve our brethren only with our

* fupcrfluitic3 5 to be charitable (Imuft ufe the word)

^ rather at the expence of our coffers thaa our ourfelves ^

* to fave fcveral families from mifery rather than hang up
*• an extraordinary pidlure in our houfes, or gratify any

* other idle, ridiculous vanity, this feems to be only being

* human creatures. Nay, a will venture to go farther, it

* IB being in fome degree epicures : for what could the

* greateft epicure wifh rather thru to eat with many mouths

* tnitead of one ? which, I think, may be predicated of
, ^ any one who know» that the bread of many is owing to

; • his own largeffes.

< As to the apprchencfion of beftowing bounty on fuch

* as may hereafter prove unworthy objects, becaufe many

* have proved fuch ; furely it can never deter a good mai|

* from generofity : I do not think a few or many exam-

* pies of ingratitude can juftify avian's hardening hi»

I * heart againft the dlftreffes of his feUow-creatures ; nor
I * do I believe it can never have fuch effed on a truly bene-
' •' voleht mind. Nothing lefs than a perfuafron 6f univer-

* feilldcpravity can lock up the charity of a good man ;
>. and this perfuafion mufl lead him, I think, either into
^ < at&eifm or enthufiafm : but furely it is unfair to argue

t rfuch univerfal depravity from a few vicious individuals ;

;< ,n0r was this, I bdicve, ever done by a man, who, upon

" '-* fean:hing hia own mind, found one e1Lcc^\i'!iILVi^i£:«►/!gi^

Co The H I S T O R Y of a Bock If.

* neral rule.' He then concluded by afkinc; « who that

* Partridge was, whom he had called a worthlefs ftliow ?'

* I mean, faid the captain. Partridge the barber, the

* fchoolmi fht-r, what do ygu call him ? Partridge, the

* fiiihcr cf the little child which you found in your bed.'
Mr AlKvorthy exprelFtd great furprife at this account,

and the captain as great at his ignorance of it : for he
faid he had known it atoYC a month, and at length re-
coll 66Ved with much difRculty that he was told it by Mrs
Wiikins*

Upon this, Wilkins was immediately fummoned, who
l.Aving coiir.rrA€d what the captain had faid, was by Mr
AlUvorthy, Ijy and with tlie captain's advice, diipatched
tp P'ttk-Eaddingtoiit to inform herfelf of the truth of
the f?(^ : for the captain exprefliid great di/likc at ali
hafty jTooctdings in criminal matters, «.nd faid he would
by no'^means havt Mr All worthy take any refolution ci-
ther to the prejudice of the child or its father^ before he
was fatisfied that the latter was guilty i for though he
Tad privately fatisfied himfelf of tim from one of Par-
tridge's neighbours, yet he w^as too generouA to giye any
fuch evidence to Mi- AUwoithy.

CHAP. VL

T^ff trial of Partridge^ th fdoolmaJicVi fir in^ott'tifncy^,
the evidence of his <wije ; a Jh<^t refieOion on the nuifdcw
of our la<w : ivith other grave matters^ ivhicb thofe <wili
like beji nuho undeifiand them ptojf,

IT may be wondered that a ftory fo well known, and
which had furnifhed fo much matter of converfation^
Ihould never have be«i mentioned to Mr All worthy hint
felf, w^ho was perhaps the only perfon in that country
who had never heard of it.

To account in forae meafure fer this to the reader, I
think proper to inform him that there was no one in the
kingdom lefs interefted in oppofing that dodlrine concern-
ing the meaning of the word charity, which hath been
feen in the preceding chapter, than our good man« In-*
ffeed, he waa equally intitled to this virtue in either
denfe : for as no man was ever more £cTvfi.\A^ q^ ^"t >K;i.Ti\.^

Ctap. 6. F O U N D L I N G. 6i

or xnore ready to relieve the diftrefles of others, fo none
coidd be more tender of their charadters, or flower to be-
lieve any thing to their difadvantage.

Scandal, therefore, never found any accefs to his table :
for as it hath been long fince obferved, that you may
know a man by his companions ; fo I will venture to fay,
that by attending to the conyerfation at a great man'&
table, you may latisfy yourfelf of his religion, his poli-
cies, his tafte, and indeed of his entire difpofition : for
tKoagh a few odd fellows will utter their own fenllments
in all places, yet much the greater part of mankind have
enough of the courtier to accommodate their converfd-
tion to the tafte and inclination^ of their fupperioi**. * \ ..

But to return to Mrs Wilklns, who having executed
her commlffion with great difpatch, though aft fifteen-:
Ailes diftance^ brought back fuch alSoniifmation of the
fehooknafter's guik, that Mr Allworthy determined to fend
for the criminal, and examine him vha vyce^ Mr Par-
tridge, therefore, was fummoited to attend^ in order to hi»:^
defence (if he could make any) againli this acci^atiom

At the tame appointed, before Mr Allworthy himfelf,
at Paradife-hall, came as well the faid Partridge, with
Anne his wife, as Mrs Wilkins his accufer.

And now Mr Allworthy being feated in the chair of
juftlce, Mr Partridge was brought before him. Having^
beard his accufation from the mouth of Mrs Wilkins, he
leaded. Not guilty, making many vehement protefta-
tions of his innocence

Mrs Partridge was then examined, who, after a mo*
<Ieft apology for being obliged to fpeak the truth againlt
her hufhancfe related all the circumftances with which, the
reader hath already been acquainted ; and at laft concluded
with her hu(band^3 confeffion of his guilt.

Whether (he had forgiven him or no, I will not ven-
ttii»e to deteraiine : but it is certain, fhe was an unwilling
witncfc in this caufe ; and it is probable, from certain o-'
ther reafonsv would never have been bron^rht tc^deppfe
US (Ire did, had iiot Mrs Wilkins, with gr^ar art, fiOiect
afl dtit of her, at her own houfe, and had fhe nn intked
t^tsU^ promlfes in Mr AHworthy's nnnlc, that the panlfh-*
nfehVof her hulhand (houldt^ be fuch as might any wife

62 The H I S T O R Y of a Book ir

Partridge ftill perlifted in alTcrting his innocence tltough
he admitted he had made the above-mentioned confe£5oD ;
which he, however, endeavoured to account for, by pro-
tefting he was forced into it by the continued importunity
fhe ufed, who vowed, that as (lie was fure of ^i« guilt,
fhe would never leave tormenting him till he had owned it ;
and faithfully promifed, tJiat, in fuch cafe, fhe would never
mention it to him more. Hence, he faid, he had been in-
duced faifely to confefs himfclf guilty, though he was in-
nocent ; and that he believed he ihould have confefied a
murder frojn the fanje motive.

v^iftMi^^|h|tidge could not bear this imputation with pa*

<^ MplJIPpfloiQ having no other remedy, in the prefent place,

i. jFDUt tears, (he called forth a plentiful affiftancc from them,

^ and then addreilin^ herfelf to Mr Allworthy, (lie faid, (or

rather cried), i May- it pleafe your Wor(hip, there never

* ivas any^ poor woman fo injured as I am by that bafe
* . man : for this is not the only inftance of his falfehood

* to me. No, may it pleafe your Wor(hip, he hath injur-

* ed my bed many's the good time and often. I could

* have put up with his drunkenncfs and negled^ of his
, * bufinefs, if^he had not broke one of the facred com-

'* mandiments. Befides, if it had been out of doojs, I

* had not mattered it fo much ; but with my own fer-

* vaQt, in my own houfe, under my own rocf ; to defile

* my own chafte bed, which, to be fure, he hath with hi>
*. b^ailly llinking whores. Yes^ you villain," you hate

* defiled my own bed, you have ; and then you have

* charged me with bullocking you into owning the truth.

* It isv very likely, an't pleafe your Wormip, that I

* fhould bullock him. — I have marks enow about my bo-

* dy to (hew of his cruelty to me. If you had bee6 a

* man, you villain, you would have fcorned to injure ^
. * woman in that manner : but you an't half a man, yoii.

< know it. — Nor have you been half a hufband to me»

* You need run after whores, you need, when I'm fure

< —And fince he provekes me, I am ready, an't

* pleafe your Wor(hip, to take my bodily oath, that I

* f()und them a-bed together. What, you have fbrgol|^t|

* I fuppofe, when you D«^t me into a fit, and made thio|r

* blood run down my forehead, becaufe I only civilly*:^
« / taxed you with your adultery I but I can prove it "

Chap- 6. FOUNDLING. 6$

« aH my neighbours. You have almoft broke my heart,
* you have, you have.'

Here Mr AUworthy interrupted, and begged her to be
pacified, promiiing her that (he (hould have juftice ; then
turning to Partridge, v^rho ftood aghaft, one half of his
wits being hurried away by furpnfe, and the other half
by fear, he faid, He was forry to fee there was fo wick-
ed a man in the world. He afiured him, that his prevari-
cating and lying backward and forward was a great aggra-
vation of his guilt ; for which, the only attonement he
could make was by confeflion and repentance. He ex-
horted him, therefore, to begin by immediately confeifing
the fa6l, and not to perfift in denying what was fo plainly
proved againft him, even by his own wife.

Here, reader, I b^g your patience a moment, while I »
make a Juft compliment to the great wifdom and fagacity
of pur law, which refufes to admit the evidence of a
wire for or*againft her hulband. This, fays a certain
learned author, who^ I believe, was never quoted before
in any but a law-book, would be th^ means of creating an
eternal diflention between them. It would, indeed, be the
means of much perjury, and of much whipping, fining,
imprifoning, tranfporting, ^nd hanging.

Partridge ftood a while fileut, till being bid to fpcak,
be faid, he had already fpoken the trutli, and appealed to
Heaven for his innocence ; and, laftly, to the girl herfelf,
whom he -defired his Worfhip immediately to fend for ;
for he was ignorant, or at leaft pretended to be fo, that
fte had left that part of the country.

Mr AUworthy, whofe natural love of juftice, joined to
his coolnefs of tcinper, made him always a moft patient
magiftrate in hearing all the wltnefTes which an accufed
perlon could produce in his defence, agreed to defer his
final determination of this mattei: till the arrival of
Jenny, for whom he immediately difpatched a mtflfen-
geif: and then having recommended peace between Par-
tridge and his wife, (though he addreffed himfelf chie^y
to the wrong perfon), he appointed them to attend agaia
, ibe; third day : for he had fent Jenny a whole day's jour-
ii^ from his own houfe* ^

A^i the appointed time the parties all aflembled, when
4j»& meffengcr returnibg brought woTd> \IiaaX. "^^wxw-^ ^^ja

64 The HISTORY of a. B©dk IC

not to be found: for that fhc had left hef habitatfoii
a few days before, in company with a recruiting offieeir.
Mr Allworthy then declared that the evidence of fiich
8 flut as flie appeared to be, would have deferved no cre-
dit J but he faid he could not help thinking that had fhc
been prefent, and Would have declared the truth, fhe
muft have confirmed tvhat fb many circumftances, tog*-*
ther with his own confeffion, and the declaration of hi*-'
vnfcf that (he had caught her hufband in the fa6t, did
fufficiently prove. He therefore once more exhorted
Partridge to confefs ; but he ftill avowing his innocences
Mr AlWorthy declared himfelf fatisfied of his giiilt, and'
, that he was loo bad a man to receive any encouragement'
from him. He therefore deprived him of his annuity^
and recommended repentance to him, on account of ano-
ther world, and induftry to maintain himfelf and hiBi
wife in this.

There were not, perhaps, many more unhappy per--
fona than poor Partridge. He had loft the beft partr
of his" income by the evidence of his wife, and yet was da3y^'
upbraided by her for having, among other things, heew .
the occaiion of depriving her of that benefit ; for £w^
was his fortune, and he was obliged to fubmit to it.

Though I called him poor Partridge in the lafl para--
graph, I would have the reader rather impute that cpi^
that to the compaflion of my temper, than conceive it- i
to be any declaration of his innocence. Whether he wa^ I
innocent or not will pe.haps appear hereafter; but S? 1
the hiftoric mufe hath intrufted me with anj^ fecret8,.f ]
will by no means be guilty of difcovering them till fht I
fhall give me leave. 1

Here, therefore, the reader muft fufpend his curiofity^
Certain it is, that whatever was the truth of the cafe,' ]
there was evidence more than fiifiicient to convid^ him^. >
before Allworthy ; indeed much lefa would have fatisfie<£ j
a bench of jufticcs on an order of baftardy : and yet, ^ot-i.
withftanding the pofitivenefs of Mrs Partridge, whoif}
would have taken the facrament upon the matter, thet^^ %
is a poflibility that the fchcolmafter was entirely innc^tfl'
cent : for though it appe?.red clear, on comparing tlSf^*
time when Jenny deprrted from Little-Baddington with'*
that of Aer deiiverv, that Che h:xd \hcr^ coxicdvcd this ini?^- ^

Chap. 6. FOUNDLING. 65

fant ; yet it by no means followed, of ncceffity, tliat Par-
tiidge miiil have been its father : for, to omit other par-
ticulars, there was in the fame houfe a lad near eighteen,
between whom and Jenny there had fubfifted fufficient
intimacy to found a reaf enable fufpicion ; and yet, fo
blind is jealoufy, this^ circumftance aever once entered
into the head of die enraged wife.'

Whether Partridge repented or not, according to Mr
Allworthy 's . advice, is not fo apparent. Cei^tain it is,
that his wife repented heartily of the evidence fhe had
given againft him : efpecially when ft>c Ibund Mrs Debo-
laJi hid deceived her, and refufed to make any application
to Mr Allworthy on her behalf. She had, however, fome-
what better fuccefs with Mrs Blifil, who wafi, as the
leader mud have poxxived, a. much better tempered wo-
man ; and very kindly undertook to fob'dt her brother t^
reftore the annuity. In which, tliowgh good nature muft
have fome (hare, yet a ftronger and more natural motive
will appear in the next chapter.

Theie folicitations were neverthelefe onfuccefsful : for
though Mr Allworthy did not think, with fome late
writers, that mercy coniifts only in paniihiDg ofienders ;
yet he was as far from thinking that it is proper to thi»
excellent quality to pardon gieat Crittiiniili wantonly,
without any reafon whatever. Any doubtfulnefs of the
hidiy or any circumftance of mitigation was never dif-
regarded ; bnt the petitions of an offender^ or the inter*-
c^mons of others, did not in the leaft affeft him* In a
word, he never pardoned, becaufe the offender himfelf
or his friends, were unwilling that he Ihould be punifhed.

Partridge and his wife were therefore both oblige4 to
fubmit to their fite ? which was indeed fevere enoiigh:
for fo far was he from doubling his induftry on the^ ac-
count of his leflened income, that he did in a manner' a-
bandon hjrhfelf to difpair; and as he was by nature in-
dolent, that vice now increafed upon him, by which means
^ h£ loft the Httle fchool he had ; fo that neithef 'his wile •
W€fir himfelf would have had any bread to eat, had not the
duirity of fome good Chriftian interpofed, and provided
tbeoi with what was juft fufficient for their fuftenance.

A^ thi« fupport was conveyed -to them by an unknowa
lapji tbcy imagined, aadfo, I doubt iiotv'^^^^^^^'t^'^^^^'^

66 ThcHISTORYofa 9ook Jffl

__. that Mr Allworthy himfelf was their fecret beti«fadorj
who, though he would not dpenly encourage vice, eoold
yet privatdy relieve the diftreffcs of the vicioos them-
fclves, when thefe becaofie too ex^uifite and difpropor-
tionate to their demerit. In which light their wretch-
ednefs appeared now to Fortune herfelf; for (he at
length took pity on this miferable couple, and coniider-
ably lelTened the wretchednefs of Partridge,, by putting
a iinal end t6 that of his wife, who foon after 'caught
the fmall-pox and died.

The juftice which Mr Allworthy had executed on Par*
tridge, at firft met with univerfal approbation 5 but n^
fboner had he felt its confequences, than his neighbours
began to relent, and to compailibn^te his cafe; and pre*
fently after, to blame that as rigour and feverity which thpf;:
before called juftice. They now exclaimed againft punifli-'
ing in cold blood, and fang forth the prailes of mercy^
and forgivenefs.

Thefe cries were confiderably incrcafed by the desdl/ ^
of Mrs Partridge,, which, though owing to the drftempet
above-mentioned, which is no confequence of poverty /»;
diftrefs, many were not afhamed to impute to Mr Allw(S|ii^
thy's feverity, or, as they now termed it, cruelty. ^t

Partridge, having now \ok his wife, his fchool, aiict
his annuity, and tlie unknown perfbn having now difooa^^
tinned the laft mentioned charity, refolved to <ihangc Afc
fcenc, and left the country, where he was. in danger o£
ftarving with the univerfal compafilon of all his nei^<^
hours.

C H A P. VIL

^ Jhort Jketch of that felicity *vjhkh prudent couple; m0
extract from hatred ; ivith a fhort apology for thofe peo' , \
pie nuho overlook^imperfe^ions in their friends.

T Hough the captain had effedlually demoli(hed poov|.
Partridge, yet had he not reaped the harveft Jn^i
hoped for, which was to turn the foundling out of Wsm^
AUworthy's houf(^. 1^]

On the contrary, that gentleman grew every day fond4|
of Jittle Tommy^ as if he intended to counterbalaaqEi|^^

taiap. 7* FOUNDLING. 67

hh feventy to the father with extraordinary fondnefs and
affe6iioH towards the fon.

This a good deal Toured the captain's temper, as did all
the other daily inilances of Mr AUworthy's gencrofity :
for he looked on all fuch largeiTes to be diminutions of his
pwn wealth.

In this, we have faid, he did not agree with his wife j
fior, indeed, in any thing elfe : for though an affection
placed on the underllanding is, by many wife pcrfons,
thought more durable than that which is founded on
beauty, yet it happened otherwife in , the prefent cafe#
Nay, the underftaqdings of this couple were their princi-
{>al bone of contention, and one great caufe of many
quarrels which from time to time arole between them ; and
which z% laft ended, on the iidc of the lady, in a fovereign
contempt for her hufband ; and on the hufband's, in an
titter abhorrence of his wife.

As thefe had both exercifed their t^ents chiefly in the
ftudy of divinity, this was, from their firft acquaintance;
the moil common topic of converfation between them.
The captain, like a well-bred man, had, before marriage,
always given up his opinion to that of the lady ; and
ithis, not in the clumfy aukward manner of a conceited
blockhead, who, while he civilly yields to a fuperor in
^rguinent : is defirous of being ftill known to think him-
fe£r ip- the right* The captain, on the contrary, though
-one of the proudefl: fellows in the world, fo abfolutely
yielded the viAory to his antagonift, that (he, who had
jiot the leaft doubt of his fmcerity, retired always from
the difpute, with an admiration of her own underftanding,
and a love for his.

But though this cbmplaifance to one whom the cap-
tain thoroughly defpifed, was not fo uneafy to him, as it
4¥ould have been, had any hopes of preferment made it
mceiTary to fhew the fame fubmiflion to a Hpadley, or to
fome other of great reputation in the fcience ; yet even
^is coft him too much to be endured without fome mo-
Jtive. Matrimony,* therefore, having removed all'^fuch
iliotives, he grew weary of this condefcenfion, and began
$.0 treat the opinions of his wife with that haughtinefs
fifii infolcncc; which none but thofe who deferve fome

6S The H I S T O R Y of a Book ID

contempt themfelves can beftow, and thofe only who de«
ferve no contempt can bear.

When the Irrft torrent of tendernef& was over, and
when, in the calm and long interval oetween th€ fits^
reafon began to open the eyes of the ■ lady, and (he faw
this alteration of behaviour in the captain, who, at lengthy
anfwered all her arguments only with pilh and pihaw,
(he was for from enduring the indignity with a tame .
fabmiffion. Indeed, it at lirft fo highly provoked her,
that it might have produced fome tragical event, had it
not taken a more harmlels tum^ by filling her with the
utmoft contempt for .her hufoand's under ftanding, which
fomewhat qualified her hatred towards him ; though of
this likewife fhe had a pretty mockrate (bare.

The captain's hatred to her vsras of a purer kind : fot
a» to any imperfections, in her knowledge or underfland^
ing, he no more delpifed her for them than for her not
bemg fix feet high. In bis opinion of the female fex, he
exceeded the raorofenefs of Ariftotle himftlf: he looked
on a woman as on an animal of domeftic uie, of fomewhat
liigher confideration than a cat, fmce her ofiiees^ were
or rather more importance ; but the diflPerence between
thefe two wa», in his eltimation, fo fmall, that, in his
marriage contracted with Mr Allworthy's landa and te-
nements, it would have been pretty equal which of them
h? had taken into the bargain. And yet fo tender was
his pride, that it felt the contempt which hi» wife now
began to exprefs towaids him ; and this, added to the
furfelt he had before taken of her love, created in him a
degree of difguft and abhorrence perixaps hardly to be
exceeded.

One fituation only of the marriage-ftate is excluded
from pleafure ; and that is, a flate of indifference. But
as many of my readers, I hvOpe, know what an exquifite
delight there h In conveying pleplfure to a beloved object,
fo fome few, I am afraid, may have experienced the fa*
trsfadtion of toiTnenting one we hate. It is, I apprehend,
to come at this latter pltafure, that we fee both fexes
often give up that eafe in marriage, which they might
otherwife polfefs, though their mate w^as never fo dt&i*
grccahle to them^ Hence the wife often puts on fits oi
Jove and Jcaloiii'yf nay, even d^nks \i^xl<Ai wa^ ^^X^-aife^^

CKap* 7. F O U N D L I N G. 6^

to difturb and prevent thofe of her hufband ; and he again,
in return, puts frequent rcftraints on hiinfclf, an|l Hays at
iiome in company which lie didikes, in order to confine
his wife to what fhe equally detefts. Hence too muft flow
thofe tears which a widow fometimes fo plentifully (heds
over the alhes of a hufband, with whom (he led a life of
conftant difquiet and turbulency, and whom now fhe caa
never hope to torment any more.

But if ever any couple enjoyed this pleafure, it was at
prefent experienced by the captaih and his lady. It was
always a fufScient rcafon to either of them to be obftinatc
in any opinion, that the other had previoufly afTerted the
contrary. If the one propofed any amuferaent, the other
conftantly objcdled to it : they never loved or hated, conci-
mended or abufed, the fame perfoii. And for this reafon,
as the captain looked with an evil eye on the little fouiid-
iing, his wife began now to carefs it almoft equally with
her own child.

The r^eader will be apt to conceive, that this behaviour

l>etwecn the hufband and wife did not greatly contribute

to Mr Allworthy's repofe, as it tended fo little to that

ferene happinefs which he had defigned for all three, from

this alliance : but the truth is, though he might be a little

tlifappointed in his fanguine expectations, yet he was far

from being acquainted with the whole matter; for as the

"xaptain was, from certain obvious reafons, much on his

l^uard before him, the lady was obliged, for fear of her

brother's difpltafure, to purfue the^rae condudl. In fadt,

■^t is poilible for a third perfon to be very intimate, nay

, even to live lon^ in the fame houfc with a married couple,

who have any. to!era!)le difcretion, and not even gucfs at

the four feotiments which they bear to each other : for

though the whole day may be fometimes too rtiort for

hatred, as well as for love ; yc^t the many hours which they

naturally fpend together ^ppart from all obfervers, furnifU

•people of tolerable moderation,' with fuch ample opportu-

ttity for the enjoyment of ei^ier palTion, that if they

Xoy^ they can fupport being a few hours in company

Without toying, or if they hate, without fpilting in each

jolher's faces.

"It is poffiblc, however, that Mr Alhvorthy^ faw enough

V6^ L H

70 The H I S T O R Y of a Book IJ|.

to< render him a little uneafy ; for we are not always to
conclude, that a Vvile man is not hurt, becaufe lie do^
not cry out and kment himfelf, like thofc of^ cl^ldifh
or cfftn-iinate temper. But Jndeedit is pofliLle he might
fee fome faults in the captain without any uneafinds at
all : for men of true wifdom and goodnefs are contented
to take perfons and things as they are, without complain-
ing of their imperfcftions, or attempting to amend them.
They can fee a fault in a friend, a relation, or an ac-
quaintance, without ever mentioning it to the parties
themfclves, or to any others ; and this often without
lefiening their affedion Indeed, unlefs great difcern-
jnent be tempered with this overlooking difpoiition, we
ought never to contiadl friendfliip but with a degree of
folly which we can deceive : for I hope my friends, will
pardon me, when I declare, 1 know none of them without
9 fault ; and I (houM be foriy if I could imagine, I had
any frieod who could not fee mine. Forgivenefs, ofthis
kind, we give and demand in turn. It is an exerdBf of
friendfliip, and perhaps none of the leaft pleafant. ^And
this fcrgivencfs we mull beltov/, without delire of amend-
ment. There is, perhaps, nO furer mark of folly, thaa
an attempt to correal the natural infirmities of thofe wc
Jove. The finefl compofition of human nature, as well
as the fincfl china, may have a flaw in it ; and this I am
afraid, in either cafe, is equally incurable ; though^ ne*
.verthelefs, the pattern may remain of the higheft value.

Upon the whole, then, Mr Allworthy certainly faw
fome imperfedions in the captain ; but as this was a \cif
artful man, and eternally upon his guard before him, theft
appeared to him no more than blemifhes in a good cha-
xacler ; which his goodnefs made him overlook, and hij '
wifdcm prevented him from difcovering to the captain him*
felf. Very different would liave been his fentimcnts, had
he difcovercd the whole ; whfe^h, perhaps, ^Yould in tim^
have been the cafe, had the hufband and wife l<^ng contif
jiued this kind of behaviour to each other ; but this kind
"Fortune took effedlual mdans to prevent, by forcing tixf
captain to do that which rendered him again dear to%M|j .1
wife, and reHored all her tenderncfs and afTcdion tQv,'a|f^
him, '

diap. 8. FOUNDLING. 7X

CHAP. VIII.

A receipt to regain the loji affections of a nvife^ mjhich hath
never been k?tovjn to fail in the moji defperate cafes ^

TH E captain was made large amends for the unplea*
fant minutes which he paffed in the converfation of
his wife, (and which were as few as he could contrive to
make them), by the pleafant meditations he enjoyed when
alone.

Thefd meditations were entirely employed on Mr All-
worthy's fortune : for, iirfl, he exercifed much thought
in calculating, as well as he. jould, the exacl valbe of the
whole ; which calculations he often faw occifion to alter
in his own favour : and, fecondly, and chielly, he pleafed
himfelf with intended alterations in the houfe and gardens,
and in projedling many other fchemes, as we%for the
improvement of the ellate, as of the grandeur of the place :
for this purpofe he applied himfelf to the (Indies of archi-
tcClure and gardening, and jead over many books on both
thefe fubjedis ; for thefe fciences, indeed, employed hia
whole time, and formed his only amufement. He, at lad,
completed a mod excellent plan ; and very forry we are
that it is not in our power to prefent it to our reader, (ince
even the luxury of the prefent age, I believe, would hardly
match it. It had, indeed, in a fuperlativc degree, the
two principal ingredients which ferve to recommend all
great and noble defigns of this, nature ; for it required ah
immoderate expence to execute, and a vad length of tfm'a
to bring it to any fort of perfedion. The former of thefe,
the immenfe wealth of which the captain fuppofed Mr
Allworthy poflcffed, and which he thought himfelf fure of
inheriting, promifed very effeflually to fupply ; and the
latter, the foundnefsof hi3X)wn conftitution, and his time
of life, which was only what is called middle age, reinbved
all ajipl^henfion of his not liviijg to accomplifh.

Uothi|ig was wanting to enable him to enter upon the
Mll^^diate execution of this plan, but the death of Mr
•Aft0orthy ; in calculating which he, had employed much
' of hi8 Qwn algebra, befides purchafing every book extant
lilt treats ot the value of liv^js, rcvevCvotw^^ <:jc. "^^^^esl

% I

72 The H I S T O R Y of a Book IL

all which he fatisfitd hlmfelf, that as he had every day a
chance of this happenings fo had he more thaa an even
chance of its happening within a few yeacs.

But while the captain was cue day buiied in deep con-
templation of this kind, one of the mcH unlucky, as well
as unfeafonable accidtnts, happened to him. The utraoft
malice of Fortune could, indeed, have contrived nothing
fo cruel, fo vial-a-proposy fo abfolutely deftru^live to all
his fchemes. In Ihort, not to keep the reader in long
fufpence, juft at the very inftant when his heart was ex-
ulting in meditations o» the happinefs which would accrue
to him by Mr Allworthy's death, he himfelf — died of an
apoplexy.

. This unfortunately befcl thfc captain as he was taking
his evening walk by himill*'fo that no body was. prefect
to knd him any affifl^nce, if indeed any alfftance could
have preferved him. He took, therefore, meafure of that
propoitifca of foil which was now become adequate to all|
his future purpofes, and he lav dead on the ground, a gres^
.(though not a living) example of the tiutli of .that obfer»fe
\atioii6f Horace : •

* Til fecanda marTnora •

* Locas fub ipfamfunus: etfipulchri

* Immevior, ftruis doinus*^

Which fentiment, I (hould thus give to the EngKfh reader r>

* You provide the noblefb materials for buildmg, when «

* pick-axe and a fpade are orjly necefTary ; and buiW

* houfes of five hundred by a hundred feet, forgetting that '
< of fix by two.*

CHAP. IX.

Ui proof ff the infalUhtlity of th^ foregoing receipt y in tif
lamentations of the luido^w ; ivith other fiiitahle decorttf
tions of death y fuel) as pkyfcians^ &g. and an epitaph \0
the truefyie^

MR Allworthy, his fifter, and another lady, wei^
fembled at the accuftomed Vour in the fii|j]
room, where, having waited a confiderable tinGc \
than ufua), Mr Allworthy fii-ft declared, he begaa to gQ

I ^

-mizp. 9. 1 u N' n r r 11 c; 73-

.Tlneafy at the captain^s flay, (for he was always mo{t'
pun6lual at his meals); and gave orders that the bell
.IhcMild be rune without the doora, and efpecially towards-
thofe walks v.'hich the captain wis wont tt> ufir.

All thefc fummons proving ineffedtual, (for thecaptal;i'
tiad, by perverfe accident, betaken liimfc'f to a new waljc
.that evening), Mrs Bliiil declared Ihe v/is ferioufly fright-
ened. Upon which the other lady, who v/a3 one of her '

. mod intimate acquaintance, and who w.^l knew the true"
llate of her afFedions, endeavoured all (he could to paci-
fy her ; tellklg her— To be fure fhe could not help being:
uneafy ; but that fhe (hould hope the belt. That, pcr--
haps, the fweetnefs of the evening had enticed the cap-
.tain to go farther than his uCg^ walk ; or he might be^
detained at fome neighbour's. Mrs Blltil anfwej^ediaNo^^
(he was fure fome acAient had befallen him ; fbi^fflre he
would never ilay out without fending her wojd^ .as he-
muft know how uneafy it would make her.^ The. <Mfit^ lady,-
. having no other ai'gument? to ufe, betook hcrfelf to the
entreaties ufual on iuch occafioris, and begged her not tp-^
frighten herfelfi for it might be of very ill confequence to
htr own health ; and, fillii^ out a very large glafs of wine^ ,
advifed,' and at lait prevailed with her to drink it*-

Mr Allvvorthy now returned into the parlour ; for he *
had been himfvlf in fearch after the captain.- His coun-
tenance. fulBciently (hewed the condernation he was un-
der, which indeed had a good deal deprived him pf^
fpeech ; but as grief operates varioufly on different

•m'.nda, fo the fame apprchenfion which depreffed his*
voice, elevated that of Mrs Blifil. She now began to be-
wail herfelf in very bitter terms, and floods of tears ac--
companied her lamentations, which the lady, her Compa--
mon, declared fne could not blam^ ;- but, at t'le fune'
time, diffuaded her from indulging ; attempting to ino- -
derate the grief of her friend, by philofophic il o])lerva*
ttons on the many dlfappoirttments to which human llfe =
ii daily fubje<5t, which, (lie faid, was a fufiijient coniide-
ration to fortify out minds againil any acjidcntSi ho.v"-

J^ddcn or terrible foever. She faid^ her brother's ex- -

^ilijjU ought to teach her palience, who,^ thoagh iaieel-
|iJB||J^<l not be fuppofed as much concerned^ as • herlelf,^

jPii^iV'doubtlcfs, very uneafy, AKovxg^ \iW \^\|XJ2^Si^»ahja^

74 The H I S T O R' Y of a Book 11.

to the Divine Will had retrained his grief within doc
boundtj.

• Mention not my brother, * faid Mrs Blifil, * I alone
< am the objedl of your pity. What are the terrors of

• frlendfhip to what a wife feels on thefe occafions ;

* he is loft ! Somebody hath murdered him.-^I {hall ne-
ver fee him more.' — Here a torrent of tears had the
fame confequencewith what the fuppreflion had occaiioncd
to Mr Allworthy, and (he remained filent.

At this interval, a fervent came running in, out of
breadth, and cried out, the captain was found ; and, be-
fore he could proceed farther, he was followed by t\vo
more, bearing the dead body between them.

Here. the curious reacllr may obferve another diverfity
in 4Jie •'Operations of grief; for as Mr Allworthy had
been before filent, from the fame caufc which had made
Lis fifte|kvociferou8 ; fo did the prefent figHt,^ which drew
tears' mm the gentleman, put an entire ilorp to thofe of
the lady ; who firft gave a violent fcream, and prefeotly
irfter fell into a fit.

The room was foon full of fervants ; fome of whom*^
with the lady vifitant, were employed in care of the wifefl
and otliers, with Mr Allworthy, affiiled lb carrying off
the captain to a warm bed ; where every methou -Was tried,
in order to reftore him to life.

And glad fliould we be, could we inform th^ ^teadefi
tliat both thefe bodies had been attended with equal fuc-|
cefs ; for thofe who undertook the care of the lady, fuc- '
cecded fo well, that after the fit had continued a decent
time, {he again revived, to their great fatisfadlion : but
as to the captain, all experiments of bleeding, ,chafing>
dropping, 6r. proved ineffectual. Death, that inex-
orable judge, had pafTed fentence on him, and rtfufed ta
grant him a reprieve, though two doctors who arrived,
and were fee'd at one and the fame inflant, were his coun-
fel.

Thefe two doctors, whom, to avoid any malic»
applications, we fiiall diflinguifli by the names of Dr
and Dr Z. having felt his pulfe, to wit, Dr Y. his rii
arm, and Dr Z. his left, both agreed tRat he was aS
lutcly dead ; but as to the dlHeiiopci, or caufe of his dcat!

Chap. 9. FOUNDLING. 75

they differed ; Dr Y. holding that he died of an apoplexy,
and Dr Z. of an epilepfy.

Hence arofe a difpute between the learned men, m
which each delivered the reafons of their feveral opi-
nions. Thefe were of fuch equal force, that they ferved
both to confirm either doclor in his own fentimenta, and
made not the leail imprtflion on his adverfary.

To fay the truth, every phyfician, almoil, hath his
favourite difeafe, to which he afcribes all the victories
obtained over human natu^^ The gout, the rheumatifm,
the (lone, the gravel, and tne confumption, have ; 11 their
feveral patrons in the faculty 5 and none more than the
nervous fever, or the fever on the fpirits. And here we
may account for thofe difagrcements in opinion, concern-
ing the caufe of a patient's death which fometimes occur
b«;tween thynofl learned of the college, and which have
greatly fm^Hed that part of the world who have been

I Ignorant f^the fadl we have above aflerted.

The reader may, perhaps, be fiirprifed, that inflead
of endeavouring to revive the patient, the learned gentle-
men iliould fall immediately into a difpute on the occa-

II fion of liis death ; but, in reality, all fuch experiments
* bad been made before their arrival : fur the captain was

put into a warm bed, had his veins fcarified, his forehead
I chafTed, and all forts of flrong drops applied to hi§ lips
I and noRrlls.

} The phyficians, therefore, finding themfelvcs anticipat-

ed in every thing they ordered, were at a lofs ho w^o cm-
ploy that portion of time which it is ufual and decent to re-
main for their fee, and were therefore nccefHtated to find
fome fubjeft or other for difcourfe ; and what could more
' naturally prefent itfelf than that before-mentioned.

Our do6lors were about to take their leave, when Mr
Allvvorthy, having ffivcn over the captain, and acquiefced
in the Divine Will, began to inquire after his filler, whom
he deiireJ tltm to viiit before their departure.

This lady was now recovered of her fit, and, to ufe the

common plirafe, as well as could be expeded for one in her

condition. The doctors, therefore, all previous ceremonies

^ b^ing complfed with, as this v/as a new patient, attended,

■ jiccording to dciire, and laid hold on each of her hands^ a^a

lihcy had before done on thofc o£ \.\it cor^k*

76 The H IS T O R Y of^z Fook I&

The cafe of the lady was in the other extreme from that
of her hufband : for, as he was paft all the afliftance of
phyfic, fo in reality (he required none.

There is nothing more unjuft than the vulgar opinion,,
by which phyficians are mifreprefented as friends to death.
On the contrary, I believe, if the number of thofe who re-
cover by phyfic could be oppofcdto that of the martyrs to
it, the former would rather exceed the latter. Nay, Tome
are fo cautious on this head, that to avoid a poflibility of
killing the patient, they abftain from all methods of cur-
ing, and prefcribe nothing ^t what can neither do good'
nor harm. I have heard fome of thefe, with great gravity,,
deliver it as a maxim, * That Nature fhould be left to do*

• her own work^ while the phyfician Hands by, as it were, *

* to clap her on the back, and encourage her when fhe-
< doth well.'

So little then doth our do<^ors dclight«||^ath, that'
they difcharged the corpfe after a fmgle , 1H| but they
were not fo diTgufted with their living patient ; concern-
ing whofe cafe they immediately agreed, and fell to »
prcfcribing with great diligence.

Whether, as the lady had, at firft^ perfuaded her phyfi-
cians to believe her ill, they had now, in return, perfuadedl'
her to believe herfclf fo, I will not determine ; but fhe con- -
tinned a whole month with all the decorations of ficknefs.-
During this time (lie wa» vifited by phyficians, attended i)
by nurfes, and received ccnftant melTages from her acquain-- !
tance, to enquire after her health. *

Alflngth, the decent time for ficknefs and immoderate '
grief being expired, the dolors were difcharged, and the
lady began to fee company ; being altered only from what-
(he was before, by that colour of fadnefs in which (lie had-'
drelTed her perfon and countenance.

The captain was now hiterredj^nd might, perhaps, have ^'
already made a large progrefs towards oblivion, had not-
the friendfhip of Mr Allworthy taken care to preferve his •
memory, by the following epitaph, w hich was written by;*
a maotof as great genius as integrity, and one who per£sd;*-
ly well knew the captain*

Chap. J- FOUNDLING. ^f

Here lyes.
In Expe£lation of a joyful Rifing,
The Body of
Captain JOHN liLIFIL*

London
had the Honour of hia Birthy

O X FO Rl»

of his Education,
His Parts
were an -Honour to his Proftflioft *
and to his Country :
His Lift) to his Religion

and human Nature.
He was a dutiful Son^

a tender Huihand,
an afFedlionate Father^
a mofl kind Brother^
a fincere Fsiend,
a devout Chridian^
.and a. good Man.
His inconfolable Widow
■ hath ereded this. Stonej
The Monument of
His Virtues,
and of her ,AffedioQ. . /

THE

HISTORY

-O F A

FOUNDLING.

BOOK III.

Containing ihe mojl manorable tranfa^ions 'which pajfei
in the family of Mr j^llvjcrthy^ from the time ivhm
Tommy Jones arrived at the age offourteen^ till he at*
tained the eige of nineteen. In this boQk the reader
may pick up fome hints concerning the education of
children*

CHAP. L .

Containing little or nothings

THE reader will be plcafed to remember, that, at
the beginning of the fecond book of thia hiflory,
we gave him a hint of our intention to pafs over
feveriil large periods of time, in which notliing happened
worthy of being recorded in a chronicle of this kind.

In fo doing, we do not only confult our own dignity
and eafe, bnt the good and advantage of the reader ; for
befidcs that, by thefe means, we prevent him from throw-
ing away his time, in reading either without pleafure or
emolument, we give him, at all fuch feafons, an oppor-*
tunity of employing that wonderful fagacity, of which
he is matter, by filling up thefe vacant fpaces of time
with his own conjeftures ; for which purpofe we hav<^
taken care to qualify him in the preceding pages. ;•

For inftance, what reader but knows that Mr Allwt«^4 ^
thy felt, at firft, for the lofs of his friend, thofe emotlo^ .
oi grief, which, on fuch occafions, enter into^ all tft^ ^j

Chap. I. , F O U N D L I N G. . 79

whofe hearts are not compofed of flinty or their heads of
as folid materials ? Again, what reader doth not know
that philofophy and rchgion in time moderated, and at
laft extinguilhed this grief ? The former of thefe, teach -
ing the foJly and vanity of it ; ind the lattei^R:orred:Ing
It as unlawful ; and at the fame time affuagiag it, by raii-
ing future hopes and afTurances, which enable a ilrong and
religious mind to take leave of a friend en his death-bed,
with little lefs indificrence than if he was prjparin^; for a
long journey ; and indeed with little kis hope of feeing
him again. \

Nor. can the judicious reader be at a greater lofs on
acconnt of Mrs Bridget Bllhl, who, he may be aflured,
conducled herfelf through the whole feafon iri which grief
is to make its appearance on the outfide of the body, with
the firi6lefl regard to all the rules of cutlom and decen-
cy, fuiting the alterations of her countenance to thie
alterations of her habit : for as this changed from
weeds to black, from black to grey, from grey to
white, fo did her countenance change from difmal to for-
rowful, from forroviful to fad, from fad to ferious, till the
day came in which fhe was allov/ed to return to her former
ferenity. j

We have mentioned thefe tv/o, as examples on y of the
tafk which may be impofed on readers of the lowell clafs.
Much higher and harder excercifes of judgment and pene-
tration may reafonably be expeftcd from the upper gra-
duats in criticifra. Many notable difcoveries will, I doubt
not, be made by fuch, of the tranfadlions which happened
in the family of our worthy man, during all the years which
we have thought proper to pafs over ; for though nothing
worthy of a place in this hiftory occured within that period,
yet did feveral incidents happen of equal importcnce with
thofe reported by the daily and weekly hillorians of the age,
in reading which, great numbers of perfons confume a con-
fiderable part of their time, very little, I am afraid, to their
emolument. Nov/ in the conjectures here propofed, fome
of the moft excellent faculties of the mind may be employed
to much -advantage, fince it is a more ufefal capacity to be
able to foretel the a(!:l:ions of men, in any circumllance, from
|:heir charadlers, than to judge of their charadlers from
tUdt ^ftions. The former, I own requires the greater

go The H I S T'O R Y of a Book Illi

penetration ; but may be accompHflied by true fagacity,
with no lefs certainty than the latter.

As we are fenfible that muoh the greateft part of our
readers a^^^^ery eminently poflefTed of this quality, we
have left tlBa a fpace of twelve years to exert it in ; and
(hall now bring forth our hero, at about fourteen years
of age, not queilioning that many have been long impati-
ent to be introduced to his acquaintance.

C H A P. II.

The hero of this great hijlory apj^ears nmth very had omens,
y^ little tale of Jo low a kind, that forne may think it jtoi
ivorth their jtotice. A fuoord or t^ivo concerning a fquirey
and mote relating to a gamekeeper, and a fchoolmajler.

AS we determined, when we firft fat down to write
this hiflory, to flatter no man, Liit to gride our
pen throughout by the dire^Slions of truth, we are obli-
ged to bring our hero on the flage in a much more difad-
vantarreous manner than we could wifh ; and to declare
honeitly, even at his iirft appearance, that it was the uni-i
vcrfal opinion of all Mr All worthy's family, that he \ni
certainly born to be hanged.

Indeed, I am forry to fay, there was too much reafoa
for this conjedlure : the lad having, from his earlieft ycats,
difcovered a propenfity to many vices, and efpecially to
one wliich hath as direft a tendency as any other to that
fate, which v/e have juft now obferved to h^e been pro-
phetically denounced agalnft him. He had been already
convi6lcd of three robberies, viz. of robbing an orchard,
^ of ilealine a duck out of a farmer's yard, and of picking

Matter BllfiPfe pocket of a ball

The vices ct this young man were, moreover, heigh-
tened by the difadvanlagcous light in which they appea^
cd, when oppofed to the virtues of Mr Blitil^ his corap$-
jiion 5 a youth of fo different a calt from little Jpaf|
that not only the family, but all the neighbourhood, ifc
founded his praifes. He was, indeed, a lad of a remarfc
able difpolitlon ; fober, difcreet, and pious, beyond ^
sge } guuJities Vv'hich gained him th: love of every ^

Chap. 2. F- O U N D L I N G. ' «i

who knew him> whilft Tom Jones was iiniverfally difliked ;
and many expreflcd their wonder, that Mr AUworthy
would lufFer fuch a lad to be educated with his nephew,
lell the morals of the latter fhould be coriMgfcd by his
example. ^^

An incident which happened about this time, will fct
the chara6ler of thefe two lads more fairly before the dif-
cerning reader, than is in the power of the longeft difl'er*
tat ion.

Tom Jones, who, bad as h? is, muft*ferve for the he-
ro of this hillory, had only one friend among all the
fervants of the f^ttiily ; for, as to Mrs Wilkins, fhe had
long lince given him iip, and was perfedlly rcconcOcd to
her miitrefs. This friend was the gamekeeper, a fellow
of a ioofe kind of difpofition, and who was thought not
to entertain much Ibricler notions concerning he diffe-
rence of 7TieHm and tuH/a than the young gentleman him-
felf. And hence this friendfhip gave occafton to many
farcadical remarks among the domeftics, mofl of which
were either proverbs before, 6r, at lealL are become {o
now ; and ii^deed, the wit of them all iwy be comprifed
in that fhort Latin proverb, * Nofcitur a focio\ which, I
think, is. thus exprelTed in Englilh, * You may know him
* by the company he keeps.'

To fay the truth, fome of that atrocious wickednefs
in Jones, of which we have jull mentioned three exam-
ples, might, perhaps, be derived from the encourage-
inent he had received from this fellow, who, in two or
three iaftances, had been what the law calls an accelTory
after the fadl. For the whole duck, and great part of the
apples, were converted to the ufe of the gamekeeper
and his family ; though, as Jones alone v/as difcovered, the
poor lad bore not only the whole fmart, but. the whole
blame; both which fell again to -his lot on the follow-
ing occafion.

Contiguous to Mr Allworthy's eflate, was the manov
of one of thole gentlemen who are called prefcrvers of
the game. This I'pecies- of men, from the great* feverity
^th which they revenge the death of a hare or a par-
tfjdgi^ fliight be thought to cultivate the fame iuperiliti-
<>l>' vSt4 the Bannians in India ; many of whom, we are
tip|iJ>i'dedi<:at$L. thdr whole lives to lV\^ ^xd^xN-^xlxa^ -^w^

UlkilffUK-^r

8l The HISTORY of a Booklll.

prote£lion of certam animals ; were it not that our En-
glifh Banniansy while they prcfervc them from other e-
nemiefi, will moft unmercifully (laughter whole horfe-
loads the^Kjlves; fo that they ftaud clearly acquitted of
any fuch ^Rtheni(h fuperftition.

I have, indeed, a much better ppinion of this kind of
men than is entertained by feme, as I take them to anfwcr
the order of nature, and the goo<i purpofes for which they
were ordained, in a more ample manner than many others.
Now, as Horac?, tells us, that there are a fet of human
beings,

Fruges confumere nati ;

* Bom to confume the fruits of the earth :' fo, I make no
fnanncr of doubt but there are others,

Feras confumere nati ;

* Bom to confume the beafls of the field ;* or, as it is com-
monly called, (ft game ; and none, I believe, will deny,
but that thofe fquires fulfil this end of their creation.

Little Jcnes went one day a- (hooting with the game-
keeper ; when happening' to fpring a covey of partridges,
near the border of that manner over which fortune, to
fulfil the wife purpofes of nature, had planted one of the
^ame- confumcrs, the birds flew into it, and were marked
(a's it is called) by two fportfmen, in fome furze-bu(hc8i
about two or three hundred paces beyond Mr Alhvoithy's
dominions.

Mr All worthy had given the felk>w (lri£l orders, en pain
of forfeiting his place, never to trefpafs on any tf his
neighbours ; no more on thofe who were Itfs rigid in this
matter, than on the lord cf this mannor. With regard to
others, indeed, thefe orders had not been always vei y fcru-
pulou(iy kept ; but as the difpofition of the gentleman
^vith whom the partritk^es had taken fandluary was well
known, the ^^.mekecper riad never yet attempted to Inva'
his territories. Nor had he done it now, had not t!
younger fportfman, who was cxceflively eager to purft
the flying game, over-perfuaded him; but Jones bei
very importunate, the other, who was himfelf keen cnoii

FOUNDLING.

er the fport, yielded to his pcrfuafions, entered the ma-
Ir, and fhot one of the partridges.
" The gentleman htmfelf was at that time on horfeback,

a little diftance from them ; and hearing jjfft gun go
he immediately made towards the place, and difco-
pered poor Tom : for the gamekeeper had leapt into the
Ihickeft part of the furze-break, where he had happily
boncealed himfelf.

The gentleman having fearched the lad, and found
I' the partridge upjn him, denounced great vengeance,
I fvvearing he would acquaint Mr All worthy. He wai
as good as his word ; for he rode iHwagdiately to his
houfe, and complained of the trefpafs' on his manor, in as
high terms, and as bitter ItifmKige, as if his houfe hvA
been broken open, and the molt valuable furniture ftole out
of it. He added, that fome other pcrfon was in his com-
pany, though he could not difcover hini : for that two
guns had been difcharged almoftin the fame Inftant. And,
lays he, * we Ix^ve found only this partrld^je ; but tlie
* Lord knows what mifchicf they have done.*

At his return home, Tom was prefently convened be-
fore Mr AllWorthy. He owned the fa6t, and alledged ni>
other excufe but what was realy true, viz. that the covey
was originally fprung in Mr All worthy's own manor.

Tom was then interrogated who was with him, which
Mr All worthy declared he was refolvedto know, acquaint-
ing the culprit with the circumftance of the two guns,
which had been depofed by the fquire and both his fer-
vants ; but Tom ftoutly perfifted in afferting that he was
alone : yet, to fay the truth, he hefitated a little at firft,
which would have confirmed Mr Allworthy's belief, had
what the fquire and his fervants faid, wanted any further
confirmation.

The gamekeeper being a fufpedled perfon, w:is now
fent for, and the queftion4)ut to him ; but he, relying o^
the promife which Tom had made him, to take all upon
himlellF, very refolutely denied being in company with the
young- gentleman, or indeed haying feen him the whole
afternoon. i

Mr Altworthy then turned towards Tom, with morel
uliial anger in his countenance, and advifed him tq

S4 The H I S T O R Y of a Book III

confefs who was with him ; repeating, that he was re-,
folved to know. The lad, hnwcfver, iTill maintamed hit
xefolution, and was difmiffed with much wrath by Mr
iVllworthyj^who told him, he fhould have to the next
morning to confider of it, when he fhould be qucftioned
by, another perfon, and in another manner.

Poor Jones fpcnt a very melancholy night ; and the
more fo, as he was without his ufual coiiipanion ; for
Mr Blifil was gone abroad on a vifit with his mother.
Pear of the punifliment he was to fuEer \vzs on this oc-
* afion his leaft evil ; his chief anxiety being, left his cdn-
ilancy fhould fail him and he fhould be brought to be*
tray the gamekeeper, whofe ruin he knew muiijiow be
the confequcnce.

Nor c id the gamekeeper pafs his time much better*.
He had the fame apprehenfions with the youth ; for whofe
honour he had like wife a much tenderer regard than for »
Ms fkin.

In the i:norning, when Tom attended the reverend Mc 1
Thv/ackum, the perfon to whom Mr All worthy had com-' ■
initted the inllru6lion of the two boys, he had the fame
queflions put to him by that gentleman which he had
been afked the evening before, to which he returned the
fame anfwers. The confequence of this was, fo fevere a
•whipping, that it poffibly fell little (hort of the torture
with which confelTions are in fome countries extorted front
criminals.

Tom bore his punifhment with great refolutiori : and
though his maimer aflced him between every ftroke, whether
he would not confefs, he was contented to be flea*d ra-
ther than betray his friend, or break the promife he had
made.

The gamekeeper was now relieved from his anxiety^
and Mr All worthy himfelf began to be concerned at Torn**
fufferings : for, beiides that Mr ITiwackum, being highly
enraged that he was not able to make the boy lay what
}ie himfelf pleafed, had carried his feverity much beyoud
ttie good man's intentioji, this latter began now to fuf-
pe<^ that the fquire had been miflaken ; which his ex-
treme eageincfs and anger feemed to make probable^
and as for what the fervants had faid in confirmation €)l
their mailer's account, he l^d mo great ftrefs upon tb«|f;

^ap. 2. F O tr N D L I N G. 85

Now, as cruelty and injuftice were two ideas, of which Mr
All worthy could by no means fupport the confcioufnefs a
fmgle moment, he feat £&r Tom, and after many kind and
friendly exhortations, faid, ' I am convinced, my dear

* child, that my fufpicions have wronged you 5 T am forry
< that you have been fo fevetcly pimifhed on this account/

And at laft gave him a little horfe to make him a-
mends ; again repeating his farrow for what had paft.

Tom's guilt now flew in his face more than any feverity
could make it. He could more eafUy bear the lafhes of
Thwackum, than the generofity of Auworthy. The tears
burft froni his eyes, and he fell upon his kheee, crying,.

* Oh ! Siri you are to good to me. Indeed you are. In-

* deed T don't deferve it.' And at that very inftant, from
the fullnefs of his heart, had almofl betrayed the fecret j
but the good genius of the gamekeeper fuggcfted to hint
what might be the confequence to the poor fellow, and this
confideration fealed his lips*

Thwackum did all he could to difliiade Allworthy from
ftiewing any companion or kindnefs to the boy, faying, He
had perfifted in an untruth ; and gave fome hints, that a
fecond whipping might probably bring the matter to
%ht.

But Mi- Allworthy abfolutely refufed to confent to the
experiment. lie faid the boy fuffered enough already for
concealing the truth, even if he was guilty, ^eing that he'
could have no motive but a miftaken point of honour for fo
doing.

* Honour !' cry'd Thwackum, with fome warmdi>

* mere ftubbornefs and obftinacy ! Can honour teach any

* one to tell a lie ? or can any honour cxift independent
*^ of religion ?' ;

This dlfconffe happined at table when dinner was juft
ended j; and there were prefent Mr Allworthy, Mr Thwack-
uiiij and a third gentleman, who now entered into the de-
bate, and whom, before we proceed any farther, wc ftiaU
briefly introduce to our reader's acqualntaraice.

S6 The H I S T O R Y of a Book III

CHAP. IIL

The charaSIer of Mr Square the philofopher^ and of Mr
Thwackum the divim ; ivltb a dffpute concerning .

THE pame of this gentleman, who had then rcfided
fome time at Mr Allworthy's houfe, was Mr Square.
^His natural parts were not of the firft rate, but he had
jcreatly improved them by a learned education. He was
t'eeply read in the indents, .and a profefled mafter of all
the works of Plato and Arillotle : upon which great mo-
dels he had principally formed himfelf, fometimes accord-
ing with the opinions of tlie one, and fometimci with that
of the other. In morals he was a proftfFed Flatdnift, and
in religion he inclined to be an Ariflotellan. '

• But though he had, as we have faid, formed his morals
on the Platonic model, yet he perfedly agreed with the o-
pinion of Ariftotle, in confidering that great man rather
in the quality of a philofopher or a fpeculatiil, than as a
legiflator. This fentiment he carried a great way ; indeed,
fo far, as to regard all virtue as matter of theory only.
This, it is true, he never afHrmed, as I have heard, to any
one ; and yet,' upon the leafl attention to his conduct, I
cannot help thinking it was his real opinion, as it will per-
fedlly reconcile fome contradictions, which might othey-
wife appear in his charadlcr.

This gentleman and Mr Thwackum fcarce, ever met
•without a difputation ; for their tenets were indeed dia-
i^etricaljy oppofite to each other. Square held human
nature to be the perfedlion of all virtue, and that vice
was a deviation from our nature, in the fame manner as
deformity of body is. Thwackum, on the contrary, inain- .
t^'ned, that the human mind, fmce the fall, was nothing
but a fink of iniquity, till purified and redeemed by grace.
In one point only they agreed, which was, in all their
difcourfes on morality never to mention the word good-
iiefs. The favourite phrafe of the former was,^ the iu|^^
tural beauty of virtue ; that of the latter was, the cC**-
vine power of grace. The former meafured all a6Uoii]^
by the unalterable rule of right, and the eternal fitudji
of things ; the latter decided all matters by authority |l
but in doing this, he alwayc ufcd the Scriptures and theiir

Chap. 3- F O U N D^L I N G. 87

commentators, as the lawyer doth his Coke upon Littleton,
where the comment is of equal authority with the text.

After this fliort introduction, the reader will be plea-
fed to remember, that the parfon had concluded his
fpeech with a triumphant queftion, to which he had ap-
prehended no anfwer, viz* Can any honour exiil inde-
pendent of religion ?

To . this Squrc anfwered, that it was impoflible to dif-^
courfe philofophically concerning words, till their meaning
was liHl eftablifhed : that there were fcarceanytwo words
of a more vague and uncertain fignlfication, than the two
he had mentioned ; for that there were almoft as many
different opinions concerning honour as concerning religion.

* But,* fays he,' if by honour you mean the true natural

* beauty of virtue, I will maintain it may exift independent

* of any religion whatever. Nay,' added he, Vyou, your-

* felf will, allow it may exifl independent of all but one :

* fo will a Mahometan, a Jew, and all the maintainers of all

< the different fefls in the world.'

Thwackum replied, this was arguing with the ufual
malice of all the enemies to the true church. He fald,
he doubted not but that all the infidels and heretics in the
world would, if they could, confine honour to their own ^
abfurd errors and damnable deceptions : * but honour,'
fays he, * is not therefore manifold, l^ecaufe there arc

* many abfurd opinions about it ; nor is religion manifold,

* becaufe tiiere are various fe6is and herefies in the world. .

* When I mention religion, I mean the Chrifllan religion ;

* and not only the Chrlftian religion, but the Protellant

* religion ; and not only the Protellant religion, but the •

* Church of England. And when I mention honour, I
*,mean that mode of divine grace which is not only cpn-
•iiftent with, but dependent upon this religion; and is

* con (i (tent with, and dependent upon no other. Now,

< to fay that the honour I here mean, and which was, I

* thoQght, all the honour I could be fuppofed to mean,
^ will uphold, much lefs didate, an untruth, is to affert

* an abfurdity too fhocking to be conceived.'

/ I purpofely avoided,' fays Square, * drawing a con-

< clulion. which I thought evident from what 1 have fald;

* but if you pei-ceivcd it, I am fiu*? you have not attempt-

M The HISTORY of a Boot lit

^ cd to anfwcr it. However, to drop the articles of

* religion, I think it is plain, from what you have (aid,

* that we have diCFcrent ideas of honour; or why do we

* not agree in the fame terms of its explanation ? I have

* afferted, that true honour and true virtue are almoft fy-

* nonimous terms, and they are both founded on the uii-

* alterable rule of right, ancj the eternal fitneft of things;
•^ to which an untruth being abfolutely repugnant and
^ contrary, it is certain that true honour cannot fupport

* an untruth. In this, therefore, I think we are agreed ;

* but that this honour can be faid to be founded on reli-

* gion, to which it is antecedent, if by religion be meant

* any pofitive law*

* I Agree,' anfwered Thwackum, with great warmth,.

* T^th a man who affeits honour to be antecedent to re-
^ ligion ! — Mr Allworthy, did I agree. — •* j

He was proceeding, when Mr Allworthy interpofedr
telling them very coldly, they had both miilaken his mean-
ing ; for that he had faid nothing of true honour.— It ia-
poffible, however, he would not have eafily quieted thc
difputants, who were growing equally warm, had not-
another matter now fallen out, which put a final end to the.
cbnverfation at prefent.

C HA P. IV.

Containing a necejfary apology for the author ; anifa childi/k,
incident 9 *which perhaps requires an apology likeivifcv

BEfore I proceed farther, I fliall beg leave to obviate
fome mifconflruftions, . into which |;he zeal of fome^
few readers may lead them ; for I would not willingly give
offence to any, efpecially to men who are warm in the,
caufe of virtue or religion.

I hope, therefore, no man will, by the groffeft mifuo-
derftanding, or perverfion of my meaning, mifreprefent
me, as endeavouring to call any ridicule on the greateft
perfeAions of human nature ; and which do, indeed, ^- .
lone purify and ennoble the heart of man ; and raife him
above the brute creation. This, reader, I will venture ^
to fay, (and by how much the better man you are your-.,
felf, by fo much the nigrc will you be inclined to believe ;

Chap, 4. FOUNDLING. 89

me), that I would rather have hurried the fentiments of
thefe two perfons in eternal oblivion, than have do»e any
injury to either of thefe glorious caufes.

On the contrary, it is with a view to their fcrvice that
I have taken upon me to record the lives and adlions of
two of their falfe and pretended champions. A treache-
rous friend is the moft dangerous enemy ; and I will fay
boldly, that both religion and virtue have received more
real difcredit from hypocrites, than the wittieft profligates
or inBdels could ever caft u^n them : nay, farther, as
thefe two, in their purity, are rightly called the bands of
civil fociety, and are indeed the great eft of bleffingS'; fo
when poifoned and corrupted with fraud, pretence^ and
afFeftation, tliey have become the worft of civil curfes,
and have enabled men to perpetrate the moft cruel mif-
chiefs on their own fpecies.

I Indeed^ I di>ubt not but this ridicule \vill in general be
allowed ; my chief apprehenfion is, as many true and juft
fentiments often came from the mouths of thefe perfons^
left tlie whole fliould be taken togelhei", and I fhould be
conceived to ridicule all alike^ Now the reader will be
pleafed to confider, that as neither of thefe men were fools,
they could not be fuppofed to haveholden none but wrong
principles, ancl to have uttered nothing but abfurdities ';
what injuftke, therefore, muft I have done to their
chara6lers, had I fele6ted only what was bad, and how
horridly wretched and maimed mlift their arguments have
appeared I

. Upon the whole, it is not religion or virtue, but th^
want of them, which is here expofcd. Had not Thwack-
um too much negled^ed virtue, and Square religion, in the
compofition of their feveral fyftems, and had not both
utterly difcarded all natural goodnefs of heart, they had
never been reprefented as the objefts of derifion in this
hiftory ; in which we will now proceed.

This matter, then, which put an end to the debate men-
tioned HI the laft chapter, wasx no other than a quarrel
between Mr Blifil and Tom Jones, the corifeqtience of
which had been a bloody nofe to the former ; for though
Mr Bliiil, notwithftanding he was the younger, was in fize
above the other's match, yet Tom was much his fupcrior
^t tte tioblc art of boxing.

i'--^.-

90 The H I S T O R Y of a Book HI

Tom, however, cautioufly avoided all engagements with
tlxat youth ; for bcfides that Tommy Jones was an in-
ofFenfive lad amidft all his roguery, and really loved Bliiil,
Mr Thwackhum being always the fecond of the latter,
would have been fufficient to deter him.

JBut well fays a certain author, no, man is wife at all
hours; it is therefore no wonder that a boy is not fo.
A difference ariling at play between the two lads, Mr Blifil
called Tom a beggarly baftard. Upon which the latter,
who was fomewhat paffionate in his difpofition, immediate-
ly caufed that phaenomenon in the face of the former, which
,we have ^bove remembered.

I, Mr Blifil now, with his blood running from his nofc,
and the tears galloping after from his eyes, appeared be-
fore his uncle and the tremendous Thwackum : in which
court an indidlment of aflault, battery, and wounding,
was inftantly preferred a'gainft Tom ; who, in his excule,
only pleaded the provocation, which was indeed all the
matter that Mr Blifil had omitted.

It is indeed pofiibk, that this circumflance might have
cfcaped his memory; for, in his reply, he pofi lively in-
fifted, that he had made ufe of no fuch appellation ; add-
ing, • Heaven forbid fuch naughty words fhould ever come

* out of his mouth.*

Tom, though againft all form of law, rejoined in af-
firmance of the words. Upon which Mr Blifil faid, * It

* is no wonder ; thofe who will tell one fib, will hardly

* flick at another. If I had told my matter fuch a wicked

< fib as you have done, I fhould be afhamed to (hew my

< face.'

* What fib, child ?' cries Thwackum, pretty eagerly.

* Why, he told you that no body was with him a-fhoot-

* ing, when he killed the Partridge; but he knows, (here
he burft into a flood of tears) * yes, he knows ; for he

* confeffed it to me, th^t Black George the game-keeper

* was there. Nay, he faid, — yes you did, — deny it if you

* can, that you would not have confefs'd the truth, thoiigk

* mafter had cut you to pieces.

At this the fire flafhed from Thwackum's eyes, and hf
cried out in triumph, * Oh ! oh ! this is you^miflaken nii*

* tion of honour ! this is the boy who was not to 1^

* whipped again!' But Mr All worthy, with a mt^

Chap. S' FOUNDLING. 91

gentle afpeA, turned towards the lad, and faid, * Is this

* tnie, child ? How came you to perfift fo obftinately in
« a falfehood ?'

Tom faid, * He fcorned a lie as much as^any one ; but

* he thought his honour engaged him to adl as he did ;

* for he had prbmifed the poor fellow to conceal him:

< which,* he faid, * he thought himfelf farther oblige^

* to, as the gamekeeper had begged him not to go into

* the gentleman's manor, and had at laft gone hihifelf in

* compliance with his perfuafions.' He faid, this was
the whole truth of the matter, and he would take his
•oath of it ; and concluded with very paflionately begging
Mr AUworthy, * to have compaflion on the poor fellow's

* family, efpecially as he himfelf only had been guilty,

* and the other had been very difficultly prevailed on to

< do what he did. Indeed, Sir/ faid he, * it could'hard-
^ ly be- called a lie that I told ; for the poor fellow was

* entirely innocent of the whole matter. 1 fhould have

* gone alone after the birds ; nay, I did go at firft, and

* he only followed n^€ to prevent more m'fchief. Dd^

* pray Sir, let me be punirtied ; take my little horfe a-

* way again ; but pray. Sir, forgive poor George.'

Mr AUworthy heiitated a few moments, and then dif-
. mifled the boys, advifmg them to live more friendly ^aad
peaceably together.

C H A P. ' V.

T'/^e opinions of the divine and the philofopher concerning
the t'wo hoys ; ivJth fome reafons for their opinions and
other matters,

IT is probable, that by difclofing this fecret, which had
been communicated in the utmoil confidence to him,
young Blifil preferved his companion from a good lafhing :
for the offence of the bloody nofe would have been of rtlelf
fufiScient caufe for Thwackum to have proceeded to cor-
re^on ; but now this was totally abforbed, in the confider-
ation of the other matter ; and with regard to this, Mr
AUworthy declared privately, he thought the boy V^rved
Tiwm^ rather than punifliinent; fo that Thwackum'f
h^|id was with-hcld by a general ^ardoiL^

92 The H I S T O R Y of a Book IHEi

Thwackum, whofe meditations were full of birch» n*
claimed ^gainfi this weak, and, as he faid he would veB>
ture to call it, wicked lenity. To remit the pura(h>
mcnt of fuch crimes was, he faid, to encourage them.
He enlarged much on the corredlion of children, and
quoted many texts from Solomon and others ; which hc^
ing to be found in fo many other books, (hall not ht
found her. He then applied himfelf to the vice of ly-
ing, on which head he was altogether as learned as he had
been on the other.

Square faid, he had been ' endeavouring to reconcile the
behaviour of Tom with his idea of pcrfe(5l virtue ; but
could not. He owned tliere was fomethieg which at
lirft fight appeared like fortitude in the action ; but as
fortitude was a virtue, and falfehood a vice, they could
by no means agree or unite together. He added, that
as this was in fome meafure to confound virtue and vice,
it might be worth Mr Thwackum's confideration, whe*-
tUer a larger cailigation might not be laid on, upon that
account.

As both thefe learned men concurred in cenfuring Joncs>
fo were they no lefs unanimous in applauding Mr BlifiK
To bring truth to light, was by the parfon aflerted to
be the duty of every religious man ; and by the philofo-
pher this was declared to be highly conformable witk
the rule of right, and the eternal and unalterable fitncfs
of things.

All this, however, weighed very little with Mr All-
worthy. He could not be prevailed on to fign the war-
rant for tlie execution of Jones. There was fomething
within his own breaft, with which the invincible fidelity
which that youth had preferved, correfponded much bet-
ter than it had done with the religion of Tl.Hackum, or
with the virtue of Square. He therefore (Iridly order-
ed the former of thele gentlemen to abilain from laying
violent hands on Tom for what had pail. The pedagogue
was obliged to obey thofe orders ; but not without great
reluftance, and frequent mutterlngs, that the boy would'
be certainly fpoiled.

Tov;ards the gamekeeper the good man behaved Sff^h
more feverity. He prefcntly fummoned that poor fife^

Ctai^ f. F O tr N D L i N G. $}

low' before kiih, and after msm^r bitter remonftrances,
paid him his wages, afiddifiriiflcd him from hra fervicc ;
for Mr Allworthy rightly obiervcd, that there was a
great difference between being guilty of a fall'ehood to
^xcufe yoarldf, and to excufe another. ^He likewil'e urr
ged, as the principal motive to his inflexible feverity a-
gamil this man, that he had bafely fufRrred Tom Jones
to undergo fo heavy a punilhment for his fake, whereai
iie ou|;ht to have prevented it, by making th« difcovery
hirafcif.

• When this ftory became public, many people di£[eredt
from Square and 'lliwackum, in judging thci conduct of
the two ladsi on the occaflon. Mr Blild was generally
called a fneaking rafcal, a poor fpirited wretch, with o-
ther-€pith€t8 oi the like kind ; whilft Tom was honour-
ed with the appellations of a brave lad, Or jolly dog, and
aii'honeft fellow. Indeed his behaviour to Black George
much ingratiated him with all the fervants ; for though
that fellow was before univerfally difliked, yet he was no
iboner turned away, than he was as uaiverlally pitied ;
and the friendship and gallantry of Tom Jones was cele-,
brated by them all with the higheft applairfe ; and they
condemned Mr Blifil, as openly as they durft, without in-
curring the danger of ofiending his Mother. For all this
however, poor Tom fmarted in the flefh ; for though.
Thwacktim had been inhibited to exercife his arm on the
foregoing account, yet as the proverb fays. It is ealy to
find a ftick, &c. : fo was it eafy to find a rod ; and, in-
deed, the not being able to find one was the only thing
which could have kept Thwackum any long time from
chaitifing poor Jones.

Had the bare delight in the fport been the only induce-
ment to the pedagogue, it is probable Mr 131ifil would
like wife have had his lliare ; but though Mr Allworthy
had given him frequent orders to mike no diiFerencef
between the lads, yet was Thwackum altogether as kind
• a^nd gentle to this youth, as he was harfli, nay even bar-
bardusy to the other. To fay the trnth, Blifil had'greatly
gataed his mailer's affe(^ions ; partly by the profound
re(p«s^ he always fliewed his perfon, but much more by*
lto< Accent reverence with which he received his doc-
H^^ for he had got by heart, ;xtid it^tm^'oxX"^ x^-^'^*^^^

VoL.L °^ K.

14. ThcHISTORYofa Book im

his phrafes, and maintained all his maft^r's religioui
principles, with a zeal which was furprifing ijr one fo
young, and which greatly endeared him to <6e worthy
preceptor.

Tom Jones, on the other hand, was not only deficient
in outward tokens of refpedl, often forgetting to pull off
his hat, or to bow at his mailer's approach ; but was al-
together as unmindful both of his mailer's precepts and
example. He was indeed a thoughtlefs, giddy youth,
with little fobriety in his manners, and lefs in his coun-
tenance ; and would often very impudently and indecently
laugh at his companion for his ferious behaviour.

Mr Square had the fame reafon for his preference of
the former lad ; for Tom Jones fhewed no more regard
to the learned difcourfcs which this gentleman would
fomt times throw away upon him, than to thofe of
Thwackum. He once ventured to make a jtft of the
rule of right ; and at another time faid, He believed
there was no nile in the world capable of making fuch.a
man as his father, (for fo Mr All worthy fuffered himfelf
to be called. )

. Mr Blifil, on the contrary, had addrefs enough at fix-
teen to recommend liimfelf at one and the fame time to
both thefe oppofites. With one he was all religion, with
the other he was all virtue ; and when both were prefent,'
be was profoundly filent, which both interpreted ifi his fa-
your and in their own,

Kt:r was Blifil contented with flattering both thefc
gentlemen to their faces ; he took frequent occafions of
praifing them behind their backs to AUworthy ; before
whom, when they two were alone, and his uncle com-
mended any religious or virtuous fentiment, (for many
fuch came conftantly from him),^he leldom fiiiled to a-
fcribe it to the good inlli*udlipns he had received from
either Thwackum or Squire ; for he knew his uncle re-
peated all fuch compliments to the perfons for whofc ufc
they were meant ; and he found, by experience, the great
imprfcfiJc>ns which they made on the Philofophcr, as well
SIS on the divine : for, to lay the truth, there is no kind
of fiaiteiy fo inefillible as this, at fecond hand.

The young gentleman, moreover, fqon perceived Imxw
4^trcmdy giatcful all thofe panegyrics on his iallruc» I

CKap. 5- FOUNDLING. 9y

tore were to Mr Allworthy himfelf, as they fo loudly re-
founded the praife of that fingular plan of education which
he had laid down : for this worthy man having obfei*ved
the imperfedl inftitution of our public fchools, and the ma-
ny vices which boys were there liable to learn, had refolv-
cd to educate his nephew, as well as the other lad, whom
he had in a manner adopted* in his own houfe ; where he
thought their morals would efcape all that danger of being
corrupted, to which they would be unavoidably expofed
in any public fchool or univerfity.

: Having therefore determined to commit thefe b#ys to
the tuition of a private tutor, Mr Thwackum was recom-
mended to him for that office, by a very particular friend,
of whofe underllanding Mr Allworthy had a great opi-
nion, and in whofe integrity he placed much confidence.
This Thwackum was fellow of a college, where he almolt
entirely I'efided ; and had a great reputation for learning,
religion, and fobriety of manners. And thefe were,
doubtlefs, the qualifications by which ' Mr All worthy's
friend had been induced to recommend him ; though, in-
deed, this friend had fome obligations to Thwackum's
fiimily, who were the moft conliderable perfons in a bo-

[ ''ough which that gentleman reprefented in parlianaent.

I Thwackum, at his firfl arrival, was extremely agree-

able to Allworthy ; andj indeed he perfe^lly anfwercdthe
charafter which had been given of him. Upon longer ac-

(quaihtance, however, and more intimate converfation, this •
worthy man faw infirmities in the tutor, which he could
have wifhed him to have been without : though, as thofe
ifeemed greatly over-balanced by his good qualities, they
. did not incline Mr Allworthy to part with him ;.nor would
they indeed have juftified fuch a proceeding ; for the reader
is greatly miHaken, if he conceives that Thwackum ap-
f| feared to Mr Allworthy in the fame light as he doth to
|| him in this hiftory ; and he is as much deceived, if he ima-
j eines, that the moll intimate acquaintance which he him-
felf could have had with that divine, would have informed
|; liim.c^ thofe things which we, from our infpiration, are en-
*t «bkd to open and difcover. Of readers who from fuch
/ «OQoetts as thefe, condemn the wifdom or penetration of
i JifcAU worthy, I (hall not fcruplc to fay, that they make

Mt^.

$6 Th^ H I S T O R Y of a BooklH;

a very bad and ungrateful uUe of tkat knowledge whidi wc
iarc communicated to thenu

Thcfe apparent errors in the do^rine of ThwaGkumy
ferved greatly to palliate xhe contrary errors in that i^
Square, which our good man ho lef« faw and condemaed
Jie th( ught, indeed, that the different exuberances, of
thefe gentlemen, would corredl their different imperfec-
tions ; and that from both, efpecially with his af&ftance»
the two lads- would derive fufiicient precept of true reli-
gion and virtue. If the event happened contrary to his
cxpe£ij3itions» this poflibly proceeded from Ibme fault m
the plan itfelf, which the reader hath my leave to difco^
rer, if h£ can : for we do not pretend to introdnce angr
infallible charadlers into this hiftory ; where we hope
Kotliing will be found which hath never yet been feen itt
human nature..

To return, therefore,- the reader will not, I think, wan*
der tjiat the different behayionr of die two lads above
commemorated, pro4iiee4 the different efTedls of whicb
he hath already fpen fome inffcaijce ; and, befides this,,
thvre was aiiother rieafon for the «ondu^ of tha phil^feiii:
))her and the pe brogue.; buJ this being matter ©f gfeafi
importance, vye fliall revj?^} it la the next chapter^

C H A R Vt

Coutammg a heU^r^ reiafin filU fir the h^arei-motttibnes^

IT is to be I?nown, then, that thofe tw© learned pcr-
fonages, who have lately made a eonfiderable figure^
on the theatre of this hiftory, had frorfl their firft arrival
at Mr Allworthy's houfe taken fo great an affedion, the-J
one to his vhtue, the other to his religion, that they haJ"
meditated the clofeft alliance with him.

For tliis purpofe they had cafl their eyes- on that fair
■widow, whom, though we have not for fome time made*!
any mention of her, the reader, we truft, hath not for*
got. Mrs Blifil was indeed the objeft to whicb they h*^
afpired.

It may feem remarkable, that of four perfons whj
we'have CDmmcmorated at Mr.. Allworthy's houfe,^ «*■

fe4p.6i ^OtrSTDLING. gy

'of them ftould fiX their inclinations on a lady who was ne-
ttT greattly celehi-ated for her beauty, and who was, more-
over, now a little defccnded into the vale of years j but in
reality bo fom friends, and intimate acquaintance, have a*
land of natural propenfity to particular females at the
houie of a fi-iend, viz. to his grandmotlier, mother, fifter,-
daughter, aunt, niece, or coulin, when they are rich; and-
to his wife, filler, daughter, niece, coufin, miftrefs, orfer--
Vant- maid, if they flwuld be handfome.

We would not, however, have our reader imagine, that-

Eeifons of fnch charafters,. as were fupported by Thwac*
urn and Square, would undiertake a matter of this-
kind, whi'r'h hath been a little cenfured by fome rigid
moralifts, before they had thoroughly' examined it, and
confidered whether it was (-is Shakefpeare phrafes it)
•' ftuff o' the confcience,' or no^ Thwackum was en-
Goarged to the undertaking by r<?fle<fllhg, that to cover
yoor neighbour's lifter is no where forbidden ; and he'
knew it was a rule in the conitruftion of all laws, that
^ Exprejfum facit cejfare tacit um,^ The fenfe of whicli-
», • — when a lawgiver fets dowa plainly his whole mean -
*♦ ing, we are prevented from making him mean what-
^ we pleafe ourfelves,' As inftances of women, there-
fore, are mentioned in the divine lav/, which forbids us ta»
ckjvet our neighbour's goods, aud that of a lifter omitted,.
he concfudcd it to be lawful. And as to Square, who*
was iii his perfon what is callqd a jolly fellow, or a wi-
dow*s m^n^^ hceafilV' recoticiled his choice to the eternal^
Stnefs of things.

Nbw, as both thefe gentlemen were induftrious in tak-;
S^ every opportunity of recommending themfelves to*
Af widowj they ap*prehended one certain method was^ by'
gwttig htp fon the conftant preference Xsy the other lad:-
Sid, as they conceived the kmdnsfs and afFeAion' which-
5ft Allworthy fhevved the latter, muft h^ highly difagree--
ilt$t to hcf,. they doubted not but the laying hold on- all'
«to^fI9 to degrade and villify himj would^ be* highly
|^Hu3g,to her; who, as Ihe hatecj the boy,? muft'love^
***""' e*tf6o did him any hurt.- ItT this Thwackum hadi
e ; for while Square could* only fcarify^' the-
futationj he could flea hislkin;;aiidj; indeed,.
ererjt ladi he gav(i biiiL- ^.V -^v ^(^-aj^^vj^^sxiG.

98 The; HISTORYofa Book Ilf

paid tx) Ki8 miftrcfs ; fo that he could, with the utmofl pro-
priety, repeat this old flogging line, * Cafligo te non quod

* odio haheam^ fed quod Am em. I chailifethee not out of

* hatred, but out of love.' And this, indeed, he often had
in his mouth, or rather, according to the old phrafe, never
more properly applied, at his finders encjs.

For this reafon principally, the two gentlemen concur-
red, as we have feen above, in their opinion x:oncerning
the two lads ; this being, indeed, almoft the only inftancc
of their concurring on any point : for, befides the difference
of their principles, they had both long ago ftrongly fuf-
pe<5led each other's defign, and hated one another with no
little degree of invetei acy.

This mutual animofity was a good deal increafed by
their alternate fiicceffes ; for Mrs Blifil knew what they
would be at long before they imagined it, or, indeed, in-
tended (he fhould : for they proceeded with great caution?
left fhe fhould be offended, and acquaint Mr All worthy.
But they had no reafon for any fuch fear ; fhe was well
enough pleafed with a padion, of which flie intended none
(hould have any fruits but herfelf : and the only fruits fhe
defigned for herfelf, were flattery and courtfhip ; for
which purpofe, (be Toothed them by turns, and a long
time equally. She was, indeed, rather inclined to favour
the parfon^s principles ; but Square's pcrfon was more
agreeable to her eye, for he was a comely man ; where-
as the pedagogue did in countenance very nearly refemble
tliat gentleman who, in the Harlot's Progrefs is feen cor-
re6:ing the ladies in Bridewell.

Whether Mrs Blifil lad been furfeited with the fweets of
marriage, or difgufted by its bitters, or from what other
caufe It proceeded, I will • not dctcrnaine ; but fhe could
never be broight to liften to any fecond propofals.
However, fhe at 1 aft convcrfed with Square with fuch a
degree of intimacy, that malicious tongues began to
. whifper things of her, tp which, as well for the toke <£
the lady, as that they were highly difagreeable to the rule
of right, and the fitncfs of things, we will give no cre-
dit, and therefore fhmll not blot our paper with theiB*
The pedagogue, 'tis certain, whipt on, without geftitlg
a ftep nearer to his journey's end. • ^

Indeed he had ccmmltted a great error, and that
Square diTcovercd much fooner i\i5xu \\\«vk\£, "^Isr^ Blvfil

■^

IShap; 6 FOUNDLING.. 99

(as, perhaps, the reader may have formerly guefled) was
not over and above pleafed with the behaviour of her
hufband ; nay, to Le honeft, (he abfoliitely hated him,
till his death, at laft, a little reconciled him to her af-
fcAions. It will not be therefore greatly wondered at,
if (he had not the moll violent regard to the offspring (he
had by him. And in faft, (he hadfo little^of this regard,
that in his infancy (he feldom faw 4ier fon, or took any
notice of him ; and hence he acquiefced, after a little re-
lu6lance, in all the favours which Mr Allworthy (howered
on the foundling ; whom the good man called his own boy,
and in all things put on an entire equality with Mr Blifil.
This acquiefcence in Mrs Blifil was confidered by the
neighbours, and by the family, as a mark of her conde-
Xcenfion to her brother's humour, and was imagined by all
others, as well as Thwackum and Square, to hate the
^Foundling in her heart ; nay, the more civility (he (hewed
him, the more they conceived (he detefted him, and the
furer fchemes (he was laying for his ruin : for as they
thought it her intereft to hate him, it was very difficult
for he» to perfuade them (he did not.

Thwackum was the more confirmed in his opinion, as
ihc had more than once (lily caufed him to whip Tom
Jones, when Mr Allworthy, who was an enemy to this
exercife, was abroad ; whereas (he had never given any
fuch orders concerning young Blifil. Aud this had like-
wife impofed upon Square. In reality, though (he cer-
tainly hated her own fon, of which, nowever monftrous
it appears, I am affured (lie is not a Angular inftance, (he
appeared, notwithftanding all her outward compliance, to
be in her -heart fufficlently difpleafed with all the favour
^ewn by Mr Allworthy to the foundling. She frequently
complained of this behind her brother's back, and very

Ilharply ccnfuredhim for it, both to Thwackum and Square;*
Hiay, (he would throw it in the teeth of Allworthy himfelf,
when a little quarrel, or niifF, as it is vulgarly called, arofe^
i)6tvreen them.

(dwever, when Tom grew up, and gave tokens of that
J of temper which greatly recommends men to wo-
its dlfinch'nation which (he had difcovered to him
^hild, by degrees abated) and at laft (he fo cvi-

ICO The HISTORY ofi BooVIlH-

dently dcmonftrated her afFeftion to liim fo be miicli*
ftronger tlian what (he bore to her own fon, that it was^
imppffible to miftake her any longer. She was fo defirous
of often feeing him, and difcovered fuch fatisfadlion and
ddight in his company, that before he was eighteen years
old, he was become a rival to both Square and Thwack-
um ; and what is worfe, the whole -country began to talk
as loudly of her inclination to Tom, as ihey had before-
dooe of that which fhe had fhewn to Square'j on whicfc
account' the philofpher conceived the mod implacable*
hatred for our poor hero..

e H A P. VII.-

In m)hfch the author himfelf maker his appearance on thejlagei*

T Hough Mr Allworthy was iiotcf himfelf hafty to*
fee things in a -difadvantageous light, and was a
ftranger to the public voice, which feldom reaches to »
brother or a hufband,. though it rings in the ears of alF
the neighbourhood ; yet was this affe^Slion of Mrs^ Blifil'
to Tom, and the preference which fhe too vifibly gavc-
Rim to her own fon, of the utmoft. difadvantage to that
youth.

For fuch vras the compaflion which inhabited Mr Alt'*
worthy's mind, that nothing but the ft eel of juftice couMi^
«ver fubdue it. To be unfortunate in any refped y^^i^
Efficient, if there was no demerit to counterpoife it, t<^
turn the fcale of that good man's pity, and to engage hieM
friendihip, and his bencfaftion.

When, therefore, he plainly faw Mr Blifil' was abfo-^ !
lutely detefted (forthat he was) by his own mother, hc^ I
began, on that account only, to look with an eye of com-* [
pauion upon him ; and what the eife<fts of compaflion are* I
10 good and benevolent minds,. I need not here explain to^j
mou of my readers .^

Henceforward he faw every appearance of virtue in th
youth through the magnify^tng end, and viewed all hi
feults with the glafs inverted, fo that they became fcar^
perceptible. And this, perhaps, the amiable temper' it
pit|5^«i^y make commendable; but the. next ftep tb
trcsinbfs ofbuima Utiturc aloa« muft c&cufe : for he ni

Cbap; V F O U N B L I N G- tot

Ibpaer perceived that preference which Mrs Blifil gave tti
Tom, than that poor youth (however innoceirt) begaii
to fink in his affefiions as he rofe in hers. This, it i»
true, would of itfclf alone never have been able to eradi-
cate Jones from his bofom ; but it was greatly injurioua
to hrai, and prepared Mr Allwo4thy^6 mind for thofe im*
preffions, which aftertvards produced the mighty events
that will be contained hereafter in this hiftory ; and to
which, it muft be confeffed, the unfortunate lad, by Kii
9wn wantonnefs, wildnefs, and want of caution, too -much
contributed*

In recording fome inftances of thcfe, we (hall, if right-
ly underflood, afford a very" ufeful kflbn to thofe well-
difpofed youths vdio (hall hereafter be our readers : for
they nsiay here find, that goodnefs of heart, and opennefa
dp temper, though thcfe may give thetrt great comfort
within, and adminiller to an honeft pride in their owa
minds, will by no means, alas ! do their bufinefs in the
i«or}d« Prudence and circiimfpedlon are nceeflary even
tothfi bfftof men. They are indeed, ^s it were, a guard
tcrvirtiK, without which fhe can never be fafe. It is not
tnougblkftt your deflgns, nay tliat your jy5tiofi8, are in-
tiiiifically good ; you mufl take care they Jhall appear foi
K your injide be never fo beautiful, you muft preferve st
fiuv outtfidc alfo^i This oauft be conftantly looked to, or
liialiee aad envy will take care to blacken it fo, that the
figacity and goodnefs of an Allworthy will not be able to
ftl^t thtcxngh It, and to difcern the beauties within. Let
^&^: my young readers, be your conftant maxim. That no
maii can be good enough to enable him to ncgle6l the^
tekft of prudence ; nor will virtue herfclf look beautiful,,
ai^iafhe be bedecked with the outward ornaments of de-
Ci^cy and decorum. And this precept, my worthy dif»
€ipk«^ if you read with due attention, you will, I hope,.
|M lufficiently inforced by examples in the following

■ I9(#naifk pardon for this fhort appearance, by way of cho«:
m the flage. It is in reality for my own fake^ that
X.am diicovenng the rocks on whieh innocence
efs 4yktn fj^it, I may not be mifunderflood to-

1 ^e very means to my worthy reader*, by

gitoB4So>fhew4ih*eua tlwy will !» \wAw«.^ ^^

loa The HISTORY ofa Book Uli

th}09 as I could not prevail on any zSiors to fpeak} I
myfclf was obliged to declare.

CHAP. VIII.

jf childtjh incident y in 'which ^ however^ is feen a good-na*
tured difpofition in Tom Jones •

TH E reader may remember, that Mr All worthy give
Tom Jones a little horfe, as a kind of fmart-money
for the punifhment which he imagined he had fuffered in-
nocently.

This horfe Tom kept above half a year, and then rode
him to a neighbouring fair, and fold him.

At his return, being queftioned by Thwackum, what
be had done with the money for which the horfe was
fold, he frankly declared he would not tell hhn.

* Oho I' fays Thwackunl, * you will not ! then I will
* have it out of your br — h ;' that being 'the place to
which he always applied for information on every doubt«
ful occafion.

Tom was now mounted on the back of a footman,* and
every thing prepared for execution, when Mr All worthy
entering the rooni, gave the criminal a reprieve, and took
him with him into another apartment ; where, being alone
with Tom, he put the fame queftion to him which
Thwackum had before afked him.

Tom anfwered, he could in duty refufe him nothing \
but as for that tyrannical rafcal, he would never ms^^
him any other anfwer than with a cudgel, with which
he hoped foon to be able to pay him for all his barbarities.

Mr All worthy very feverely reprimanded the lad, for
his indecent and difrefpedlful expreiTicns concerning his
mailer, but much more for his avowing an intention of
revenge. He threatened him with the entire lofs of hia
favour, if he ever heard fuch another word from ^ hi» ,
mouth ; for ne faid he would never fupport or befriend i
reprobate. By thefe and the like declarations, he
torted fome compunclion from Tom, in which that you
was not over fincere : for he really meditated fome retu
for.a|l the fmarting favours he had received at the han
pi thepedagoguc^jv He was, howcvjer, brought by Mt /

Chap: «• P O U N D L 1 N G. toj

uvorthy to expreft a coilcern for bis refentnacnt againft
Thwackum ; aad then the good, man, after fome wholei
fome admonition, permitted him to proceed, which he did
as follows.

* Indeed, my dear Sir, I love and honom* you more

* than all the world : I know the great obligations I have

* to you, and fhould deleft myfelf, if I thought my heart

* w^ capable of ingratitude. Could the little horfe you

* gave me fpeak, I am fure he could tell you how fond i
f was of your prefent ; for 1 had more pleafure in feeding

* him than ia riding him. Indeed, Sir, it went to my

* heart to part with him ; nor would I have fold him upoa

* any other account in the world than what I did. You

* yourfelf. Sir, I am convinced, in my cafe, would have
« done the fame ; for none ever fo fenfibly felt the misfor-

< tunes, of others. What would you feel, dear Sir, if
» you thought yourfelf the occafion of them ! — Indeed,
f Sir, there never was any mifery like theirs.' — * Like

< whofe, child ?' fays Allworthy : * What do you mean ?*

< Oh, Sir,' anfwered Tom, * your poor gamekeeper, with

< all his large family, ever fince you difcarded him, have
f been perilhing with all the miferies of cold and hunger.
« I could not bear to fee thefe poor wretches naked and
« ftarving, and at the fame time know myfelf to be the
« occafion of all^eir fufferings. — ^I could not bear it, Sir,^
4 upon my foul, I could not.' [Here the tears run down
J^is cheeks, and he thus proceeded : I * It was to fave them
« from ablblute deftrudlion I parted .with your dear pre-

< fent, notwithftanding all the value I had for it : — I fold

< the horfe for them, and they have every farthing of the

* money.'

. Mr Allworthy now ftood filent for fome moments, and
before he fpoke, the tears ftaited from his eyes. H6 at
length difmiffed Tom with a gentle rebuke, adviling him
for the future to apply to him in cales of diftrefs, rather
t}l9n to ufe extraordinary means of relieving them himfelf.

t:3Ebi3 affair was afterwards the- fubjevSt of much debate
iM^een Thwackum aii4 Square. Thwackum held, that
'^^^Arsw flying in Mr Allwurthy's face, who had intend-
^KJRUnilh the fellow for his dilobedience. He faid,
ifeijafUaccs, what the world called charity, appear-

104 The H I S T O R Y of a; Book lH*

tdto him to be oppo^g the will of the|Al?ftight^,:iwfek!l
had marked fome particular pcribne for deilrutHon ; and
jhat tliis waa, in like manner, a^liug in oppoiition to Mf
A 11 worthy ; concluding, as ufual, with a hearty recortt*
m«nd« tioH of birch.

„. Square argued llrongly on the other fide, in Oppo^fon
ptrliaps to Ihwackum, or in compliance with Mr AllwOr-
thy, who leemed very much to approve what Jones had
done. AlS to what he urged on thiftoocaiiun, as I am con-
vinceil moil of my readers will be: miich abler advocates
for poor Jones, it would be impeitinent to relate it. In-
deed it was not difficult to reconcile to the rule of right
an action which it would have been impo^iible to deduce
from the rule of wrong.

C H A P. IX

Containing an incid:nt of a more hetmus kind^ ivitk the com*
me fits of Thwackum and Square.

IT hath been obfei-ved by fome men of much greater
reputation for wifdom than myfelf, \ that misfortunes
feldom come fingie. An inftance of this may, I believe,'
be feen iu thofe gentlemen who have the misfortune to havef
any of their roguries detedled ; for here difcover y feldom'
ftops till the whole comes out. Thus it happcned| to poor
Tom ; who was no iboner pardoned for felling the horfe,r
than he war dlfcovered to have fome time before fold- a find"
Bible which Mr AUworthy gave him, the money arifing^
from which fale he had difpofed of in the fame manner.
This Bible Mr Blifil had purchafcd, though he had already"
fuch another of his Qwp, partly out ot rcfped^ for the
book, and partly oat^' friendlhip to Tom, being un-
willing that the Bible (hould be fold out of the family at-
half price. He therefore diiburfed the faid half price him* !
felf ; for he was a very prudent lad, and fo careful of hia^
money, that he had laid up almoil every penny which he
had received from Mr AUworthy, '

Some people have been noted to be able to read in m
book hut their >own. On the contrary, from the ti
when Mr Blifil was firft pofiefled of this, Bible, he ne
uled any other. Nay, he was feen reading iu it muj

•

a»pw.9-: JF c5 u N D L I N a« 105

<5ftener than he bad before been in his own. Ndw, as
he frequently aflced Thw«ickuni to explain diiBcult pa{ra.g<3
to him, that gentleman unf.)rtiinately took notice of Fom's
name, which was written in many parts of the book. This
brought on an inquiry, which obh'ged Mr Sliiil to difcover
the whole matter,

Thwackum was refolved a crime of this kind, which •
he called facrilege, fhould not go unpuniflied. He there-
fore proceeded immediately to calligation ; and not con-^
tented with that, he acquainted Mr Allworthy, at their
next meeting, with this monllrous crime, ai it appeared
to him ; inveighing ag.iinll Tom in trie moll bitter terms,
and likening him to the buyers ^ad fellers who weredrivca
out of the temple.

Square faw this mattf^r in a very different light. He
faid, he could not perceive any higher crime in felling one
hook, than in felling anothv^ir. Th.at to fell Bibles was
flrif^^ly lawful by all laws bjth divine and human, and
.confequently thcre'^-as no uniitnefs in it. He told
Thwackum, that his great concern on this occafion brought
to his mind the ftory of a v;:ry devout woman, v/!io, ouc of
pure regard to religion. Hole Tillotfon's fermon's from a
lady of her acqu:*iniance.

This (lory caufed a vail quantity of blood to rufli into
the parfon's face, which of itfelf was noge of the paled ;
and he was gjoing to reply with great warmth and anger,
had not Mrs Blitil, who was preient at this debate, inter-
pofed. That lady declared herfelf abfolutely of Mr Square's
fide. She argued, Indeed, very learnedly in fupport of
his opinion ; aod concluded with faying, [[ Tom had
been guilty of any fault, fhe mull confeis her ovrn fen ap-
peared to be equally culpable ; for that Ihe could fee no
difference between the buyer and the feller, both of whom
were alike to be driven out of the temple. Mrs Biiiil, ha-
-ving declared her opinion, put an end to the debate.
Square'* triumph would almofl have flopped his words,
had he needed them : and Thwackum, who, for re?. Tons
before mentioned, duril not venture at difobliginrr ? ic lady,
."Was ahnod choaked with indignation. As to .Mr All-
.W^fitthy, he faid, fmce the boy had been already purahed,
>4p.|f»ould not deliver Hfb fentiments on the occafion j and

io6 The HISTORY of a Book IIL

■whether he was, or was not angry with the lad, I muft
leave to the reader's own conjedlure.

Soon after this, an aftion was brought againft the
gamekeeper by Square Weftem, (the gentleman in whofe
manor the partridge was killed), for depradations of the
like kind. This was a mod unfortunate circumflance for
* the fellow, as it not only of itfelf threatened hi« ruin,
but adlually prevented Mr Allworthy from reftofing him
# to his favour ; for as that gentleman was walking out one
evening with Mr Blifil and young Jones, the latter flily
drew him to the habitation of Black George ; where the
family of that poor wretch, namely, his wife and cluldren,
were found in all the mifery with which cold, hunger, and
jiakednefs, can afFtdl human creatures : for as to the mo-
5iey they had received from Jones, former debts had con-
fumed almoft the whole. ^

Such a fcene as this could not fail of affedling the heart
of Mr Allworthy. He immediat ely gave the mother a
couple of guineas, w^ith which he bxcTher cloath her chil-
dren. The poor woman burft into tears at this gcodnefs,
while fbe was thanking him, could not refrain from ex-
preflipg her pratitude to Tom ; who had, fhe faid, long
prefervcd both her and hers from llarving. * We have not,'
fays fhe, * had a morfel to eat, nor have thefe poor chil-
* drtn liad a Bag to put on, but what his goodnefs hath
^ bellowed on us.' For indted, befides the- horfe and Bi-
t)le, Tcm had facriiiced a nit^htgown. and other things to
the ufe of this .di^rcfled family. > .^

On their ivturn heme, Tom made ufe of all his eloquence
to difplay the wretchednefs of thefe people, and the peni-
tence of Black George liimfelf; and in this he fucceedecj
fo well, that Mr Allworthy faid,- He thought the man had
fufFered enough for what was pall ; that he would forgive
him, and thiiik of fome means of providing for hfm and
his family.

Jones was fo delighted with this news, that though it
■was dark v^^Kn they returned heme, lie could nt help go-
ing bsck a ,mile in a fhower of rain, tc acquaint the pcor ,
vvcman with the glad tidirips ; but like oth.er h^lly divul-
*:revs of news, he only brcuyht on himfelf the troi.ble of
contrad'ding it : for the ill fortune of Black G-eovgc made ^
12 it < f tl^a^'vei^y opportunity -uf his fficnd^s abience to oy«r«i ^
turn :ij} r^ain.

ChJp. 10. FOUNDLING. lo?

CHAP. X.

In 'mhich Mr Blifil and Jones appears In diferent lights*

MR Blifil fell very (hort of his campanion m the ami-
able quality of mercy ; but he as greatly exceeded ^
him in one of a much higher kind," namely, in juftice :
in which he followed both the precept3 and examples of ^
Thwackum and Square ; for though they would both make
frequent ufe of the word Mercy, yet itwas plain, that in reali-
ty, Square held it to be inconfiilent with the rule of right \
and Thwackum was for doing judice, and leaving mercy to
Heav|^. The two gentlemen did indeed fomewhat differ
in opinion^ concerning the objedls of tliis fubllme virtue \
by which Tiiwackum would probably have dcftroyed one
half of mankind, and Square the other half.

Mr Blifil, then, though he had kept filencc in tlte pre-
lence of Jones, yet^vhen . he had better confidercd the
matter, could by no means endure tlie thought of fuffcr-
ing hi» uncle to confer flivours on the uiid^ferving. Ho
therefore rcfolved immediately to acquaint him with the
fad which we have above (lightly hinted to tlie readers j ^
the truth of which was as follows j ^ *

The gamekeeper, about a year after be was difmiiTLxl
from Mr Allworthy's ffrvice, and before Tom *s felling thi
horfe, being in want of bread, either to fill his own mouthy
or thofe of his^ family, as he paffed through a field belong-
ing to Mr Weilern, efpled a hare fitting in her form : tliia
hare he had bafcly and barbaroufly knocked on the head,,
againft the laws of the land, and no lefs againft the laws of
Iportimen*

The higlcr, to whom the hare was fold, being unfortun-
ately taken many months after with a quantity of game
upoa him, was obliged to n\ake his peace with the Squire,
by becoming evidence againft foms poacher. And now
l^icvck George was pitched upon by him, as bein-^ a porfoii
wready obnoxious to Mr Weftern, aad pne of no good
fei^ in the country. He was, befides, the beft ficriliovr
♦^fchigler could mate, as he had fupplied him with no
fince ; and, byxbis means, the witnefs had an op*
litj of fcreening his bettct cvift^xci^x^ \ W n^i^^^^vl^

L %

io» TliQ H I S T O R Y of a Book IlL

being charmed with the power of puni/hing Black George,
J whom a fingle tranfgreflion was fufficient to ruin, made no
farther inquiry.

Had this facl Been truly laid before Mr AllwOrthy, it

• rnight probably have done the gamekeeper very little mif-

chlef ; but there is no zeal blinder than that which is in*.

^ fplred with the love of juftice againft offenders. Mr Blifil

liad forgot the diftance of the time. He varied likeviife in

^hc manner of the fa6l : and, by the hafty addition of the

linglc letter S, he confiderably altered the ftory ; for he

:faid that George had wired hares. Thefe alterations might

jfl*obab]y have been fet right, had not Mr Blifil unliickily

ihfilled on a promife of fecrecy from Mr A^lworthy, before^

he had revealed the matter to him ; but, by that rfreans,

the poor gamekeeper was condemned, without having any-

opportunity to defend himfelf ; for as the fa6t of killing

ihe hare, and of the adlion* brought,, were certainly true,

Mr AUwoiihy had no doubt concernmg the reft.

Shcrt-liv'd then was the joy of thefe poor people ;' for
T^Iv A}] worthy, the next morning, declared he had frefh*
rcnfon, v/ithout afligning it, for his anger, and ftri6lly for-
bade Tom to mention George any more ; though, as for
* liis family, he fald, he would endeavour to keep them from
Starving ; but as to the fellow himfelf, he would leave him
to the laws, which n6tliirig could keep him from breaking*
Tom could by no means divine what had incenfed Mr
AUworthy ; for'of Mr Blifil he had not the left fufpicion*
However, as his friendfhip was to be tried out by no
difappointments, he now detennined to try another nle-
thod of preferving the poor gamekeeper from ruin.

Jones was lately grown very intimate with Mr Weftern.
He had fo greatly recommended himfelf to that gentleman,
by leaping over five- barred gates, and by other a^s of
iportfmanfhip, that the Squire had declared Tom would
certainly make a great man, if he had but fufficient en-
couragement. He often wiftitd he had himfelf a fon with
fuch parts ; and one day very folemnly aficrted at a
drirking bout, that Tom fhould hunt a pack of h(:unds
for a thoufand pounds of his money, with any huntfman
j'n the whole country. ^

By fuch kind of talents be \\ad ^o \l\^T^.\^^.ted himrdf
tvlth'the Squire^ that he was ?imoft \\x\cQt£vc^ut^ ^\.\vv^

Chap. to. F O U N D L I N G.' T09

table, and a favourite companion in his fport : every thing
which the Squire held moll dear, to wit, his guns, dogs,
and horfes, were now as much at the conunand of Jones
as if they had been his own. He refolved,- therefore, to
make ufe of this favour on behalf of his friend Black
George, whom he hoped to introduce into Mr Weftern's
family, in the fame capacity ii> which he had before ferved
Mr Allworthy.

The reader, if he confiders that this fellow was already
obnoxious to Mr Weftern, and if he conliders farther the
weighty bufinefs by which that gentleman's difpleafure
had been incurred, will, perhaps condemn this as a foolifh
and defpj^rate undertaking ; but if he (hould not totally
condemn young Jones on tliat account, he will greatly
applaud him for ftrengthening himfelf witli all imaginable
intereft on fo arduous an occafion.

For this purpofe, then, Tom applied to Mr Weftern V
daughter, a young lady of about feventeen years of age, ,
whom her father, next after thofe neceflary implements
of fport juft before mentioned, loved and ellecmed above
ail the world. Now, as fhe had fome influence on the
Squire, fo Tom had fome little influence on her. But this
being the intendied heroine of this work, a lady with whom- %
we ourfelves are greatly in love, and with whom many of
our readers will, probably, be in love too before we part, it
is by no means proper fhe fhould make her appearance afr
the end of a book.-

i-s

THE

H r S T O R Y

O F A

F O U N D L I N G.

BOOK IV/
ContaiuiQg the time of a yean

CHAP. I.

Containing four pages of paper*

AS truth diftingaifhes our writings fram thofe icfle ro»
mances which are filled with monfters, the produAi"
* ons not of Nature, but of diflempered brains, and which
have been therefore recomniended by aa emkieilt critic, to
the foLvufe of the paftrycook ; fo, on^the other hand, we
would avoid any refemblance to that kind of hiHory which-
a celebrated poet feems to think is no Icfs calculated for the:.
cnnolumeDt of the brewer, as the reading it fliould be al-
ways attended with a tankard of good ale.

Whilfl — HiJIory ivith her comrade ale.
Soot hi the fad feries of her ferious tale*

For as this is the Ifqaor of modern hiftorians, nay, per-
haps their mufe, if we may believe the opinion of But-
ler, who attributes infpiration to ale, it ought likewifc
to he the potation of their readers, fince every book
ought to be read with the fame fpirit, and in the fsme
manner, as it is writ. Thus the famous author of Hur«-
, ]ot}}riimho told a learned biftiop, that the reafon his Jcrd-
/h/p could not taftc the excellence of his i^kce wa8» that
iic did aot read it with a fiddle ia \iis \iaw^ > ^'\3iOci.\sw*x

£3iap. 1. FOUNDLING. iii

ftrument he himfelf had always had In liis own when he
compofed it.

That our work, therefore might be iiv no danger of being
likened to the labour* of thele hiftorian*, we have taken
every occaiion of interfperfing through the whole fundry
fimilies, defcriptions, and other kind of poeticjil emb«lUfh-
ments. Thefe are, indeed, deligned to fupply the place of
the faid ale, and to refrefti the mind, whenever thofe (lum-
bers which In a long work are apt to invade the reader as
well as the writer, (hall begin to creep upon him. With-
out interruptions of this kind, the belt narrative of plain
matter of- fa^ muft overpower every reader ; for nothing
but the everlafting watchfulnefs, which Homer has afcribed
only to Jove himlelf, can be proof againft a news -paper of
many volumes.

We fhall leave to the reader to determine with what
judgment we have chofen the feveral occafions for inferting
thefe ornamental parts of our work. Surely it will be
allowed, that none could be more proper thaq the prefent ;
where we are about to introduce a coniiderable cliarafter
pn the fcene ; no lefs, indeed, than the heroine of this
heroic, hiHorical, profaic poem. Here, therefore, we have
thought proper to prepare the mind of the reader for her
reception, by filling it with every pleafmg imag^ which we
can draw from the £%cc of Nature. And for this method
we .plead many precedents. Tirft, this is an art well
known to, and much pradUfed by our tragic poets, who
feldom fail to prepare tlieir audience for the reception of
their principal charafters.

That the hero is always introduced with a flourifh of
drums and trumpets, in order to roufe a martiel fpirit in
the audience, and to accommodate their ears to bombaft
and fuilian, which Mr Locke's blind man would not have
grofsly erred in likening to the found of a trumpet. A
gain, when lovers are coming forth, foft mufic often con-
Qudls them on the ftage, eitlier to foothe the audience with
aM the foftnefs of the tender paffion, or to lull and prepare
them for that gentle flumber in which they will moft pro-
Va^ly be compofed by the enfulng fcene.
^ iAiid riot only the poets, but the mafters of thefe poets,
&iemztGgcrs of play-houfes, feem to b^ va \}o\% ^t<ix^\.\
jS^b^Gs the aforefaid kettle-drum*^ <bc* ^\^^ ^*

, txj The H I S T R Y of a Book iV*

note the hero's approach, he is generally ufhered on ther
ftagp by a large troop of half a dozen fcene-fhifters ; and^
how neceffary thefe are imagined to his appearance, may
be concluded from the following theatrical ftory.

King Pyrrhus'was at dinner at an alehoufe bordering
on the theatre, when he was fummoned to go on the flage.
iTie hero, being^unwilling to quit his (houlder of mutton,
and as unMriMing to dra\V on himfelf the indignation of Mr
Wilks, (his brother manager), for making the audience:
wait, had bribed thefe his harbingers to be out of the
way. While Mr Wilks, therefore, was thundering out^
< Where are the carpenters to walk on before King
* Pyrrhus,' that monarch very quietly eat his mutton, and
the audience, however impatient, were obliged to entertain^
themfelves with muHc in his abfence.

To be plain, I -much queftioh whether the politician,*
who hath generally a good noje, hath not fccntcd out
fomewhat of the utility of this pradlice, I am convin-
ced that awful magiftrate, my lord mayor,. contra<5^ a^
good deal of that reverence which attends him through
the year, by the feveral pageants which precede his pomp..
Nay, I mull confefs, that even I myfelf, -who am not re-
markably liable to be captivated with fhovv, have yieldect
not a little to the imprefiions of much preceding ftate.
When I have feen a man ftrutting iij a proceffion, after -
others whofe bufmefe was only to v/alk before him, I
have conceived a higher notion of his dignity, than I have-
felt on feeing him in a common £tuation. But there is^
one inftance which comes exa6lly up to my purpofe ; this>
is the cuflom of fending on a bafl<et-woriian, wha is to*
precede the pomp at a coronation, and to ftrew the ftage-
with flowers, before the great perfonages begin their
proceffion. The Ancients would certainly have invoked
the' goddefs Flora for this purpofe, and it would have'
been no difficulty for their prieils or politicians to have-
pcrfuaded the people of the real prefence ef the deity,* f|
though a plaitt mortal had perfonated her, and perform-- ?
ed her office. But we have no fuch dcfign of impofingf I
on our reader ; and therefore, thofe who obje6t to th^ Hea*- 1
then theology, may, if they pleafe,. change our goddels- I
into the above-mentioned bafket* woman. Our intentioDjj
in Miortf itf taiatroduce our heroine with the utmdft.fcM

Chap. 2. FOUNDLING. iij

kmnity in our power, with an elevation of ftyle, and all
Other circumftances proper to raife the veneration of our
reader. Indeed we would, for certain caufes, advife thofe
of our male readers who have any hearts, to read no far-
ther, were we not well aflured, that how amiable foever
the pi6lure of our heroine will appear, as it is really a copy^
from nature, many of our fair country-women will be
found worthy to fatlsfy any paffion, and to anfwer any
idea of a female perfedion v;hich our pencil will be able ta
raife. ■ * ^

And now, ^thout any further preface, we proceed to»*
our next chapter. *

C H A P. 11.

A Jhort hint of mjhat nve can do in the fuhlimcj and a dc»
fcription of Mifs Sophia Wejiern.

HUsHED be every ruder breath. May the Heathen
ruler of the winds confine in^ iron chains the boif-
terous limbs of noify Boreas, and the fharp-pointed nofe
of bitter-biting Eurus. Do thou, fweet Zephyrus, ri-
fing from thy Sfragrant bed, mount the weftern fky, and
lead on thofe delicious gales, the charms of which call
fbrth the lovely Flora from her chamber, perfumed with
pearly dews, when on the ift of June, her birth-day, the
blooming maid, in loofe attire, gently trips it over the
verdant mead, where every flower rifes to do her homage,
till the whole field becomes enamelled, and colours con-
tfend with fweets which (hall ravifh her mofl.

So charming may (he now appear^ and you the fea»
thcr'd chorifters of nature, whofe fweeteft notes not e-
ven Handel can excel, tune your melodious throats, to ce-
lebrate her appearance. From love proceeds your mpfic,
and to love it returns. Awaken therefore that gentle
pafllon in every fwain : for, lo ! adorned with all the charms
in which Nature can array her ; bedecked with beauty,
youth, fprightlinefs, innocence, modefty, and tendernefs,
Dreathing fweetnefs from herrofy lips, and darting bright-
ncfe from her fparkling eyes, the lovely Sophia conies.
Reader, perhaps thou haft feen tW W:«\a3^^ ol \\\^ Vcnuj.
y^r/kMrt;/!. Perhaps too, thoa haft. fec:xv. \Xv^ ^^w^ ^^

(

114 The H I S T O R Y of a Book IV

beauties at Hampton-court. Thou may eft remember each
bright Churchill of, the gallaxy, and all the toafls of the
Kit-cat. Or if thtir reign u-as before thy times, at leaft
thou haft feen their daughters, the no lefs dazzling beau-
ties of the prefent age ; whofe' names, fhould we here in-
fert, we apprehend they would fill the whole volume.

Now, if thou haft feen all thefe, be not afraid of the
rude anfwer which Lord Rochefter once gave to a man^
who had feen many things. No. If thou haft feen all
thefe without knowing what beauty is, 4kou haft no eyes ;,.
if without feeling its power, thou haft no llpart*

Yet is it poflible, ray friend, that thou mayeft have
feen all thefe, without being able to form an exa£l idea
of Sophia : for flie did not oxadly referable any of them*
She was moft like the piclure of Lady PLanclagli ; and^
I have heard, more ft ill to the famous i3ulC'hef8 of Maza-
rine ; but moft of all, flie refembled ojaQ whofe image' can
never depart from my breaft, and whom^ if thou doft ire-
member, thou haft then, my friend, an adequate idcar of
Sophia. ■■ ' '

But left this fhould not have been thy fortune, we- Will
endeavour with our utmoft flwill to defcribe this paragon,
though we are fenfible that our hrgheft abilities are very
inadequate to the tall?.

Sophia then, the only daughter of Mr Weftern, was av
middle-fized woman ; but rather inclining to tall. Her
fliape was not only exaft, but extremely delicate : and
the nice proportion of her arms promifed the trueft fym-
metry in her limbs. Her hair", which was black, was fo-
luxuriant, that it reached her middle, before (he cut it to-
comply with the modern fashion ; and it was nwv curled fo
gracefully in her neck, that fev/ would believe it to be her
own. If envy could find any part of her face which de-
manded lefs commendation than the reft, it might ^offibly
think her forehead might have been higher without any
prejudice to her. Her eye-brows were full, even, and-
arched, beyond the power of art to imitate. Her black-
eyes had a luftre in them, which all her foftnefs could not.
extinguifti. Her nofe was exadly regular, and hex mouthy
in which were two rows of ivory, cxa£ily anfv/ered Sijc
/oha Suckling's defcriptioa iaihofc lia^% /

Chap. a. F O J5 N^D LING.

«*5

Jler lips nvere redy and one nvas th'n,
Compared to that nvar next her chin*
Some hee hadjiung it itenuly.

Her cheeks were of the oval kind ; and in her right (he
had a dimple, which the leaft Tmile difcovered. Her chin
had certainly its (hare in forming the beauty of her face ;
but it was difficult to fay it was either large or fmall,
though perhaps" it was rather of the former kind. Her
complexion had rather mofe of the lily than the rofe ; hut
^ -when exercife,-or fnodefty, increafed her natural colour, no
vermilion could c 4ll|l it. Thv*n one migh^ indeed cry out
ivlth the celebratdHbr Donne,

f '^^ — Her pntye^^ind eloquent hlood

Spoke in her cheeks y and fo dijlindly ixjro'fyhtf
That one might almoji fay her body thought.

Her neck was long, and finely turned : and here, if I
itras not afi*aid of ofrendrng her delicacy, I might juftly
fav, the higheft beauties ot the famous Venus de Medicis
were outdone* Here was whitenefs which no lilies, ivory,
iior alabaftcr, could match. The fineil cambric might
indeed be fuppofed from envy to cover that hofom which
>iras louch whiter than itfelf. It was indeed,

,Nitor fplendens Pario tnannore purius,

^ A glofs fhining beyond the purcil brightnefs of Parian
^ marble.*

Such was the outfide of Sophia ; nor was this beauti-
ful frame difgraced by an inhabitant unworthy of it. Her
iriind wa« every way equal to her perfon ; nay, the let-
. ter borrowed fome charms from the former : for when fhe
imiled, the fwectnefa of her temper difFufcd that glory
over her countenance, which no regularity* of features can
. give. But as there are no perfedlions of the mind whicli
oo not difcover themfelves, in that perfeft intimacy to
which we intend to introduce our reader with this charming
fyoung creature, fo it is neediefs to mention them*here ;
voay, it is a kind of tacit affront to our reader's under-
;<^nduig9 a?id may alfo rob him of that pleafure which
/;J« will receive in forming his own judgracnt of her cha-

'iiP:i::

i}f:

^i6 . The H I S T O R Y of a Boc^k IV.

It may, however, be proper to fay, that whatever
mental accompliihments (he had derived from Nature, they
were fomewhat improved and cultivated by Art ; for fhe
had been educated under the care cf an aunt, who was a
Jady of great difcretlon, and was thoroughly acquainted
with the world, having lived in her youth about the court,
whence ihe had retired fome years fincc into the country.
By her converfation and inllru6lions, Sophia was perfedly
well bred, though perhaps flie wanted a little of that eafe
•in her behaviour, which is to be acquired only by liabit,
and living within what is called the polite circle. But this,
to fay the truth, is often too dearly purchafcd ; and
though it hath charms fo inexprefilblej that the French,
perhaps, among other qualities, mean to cxprefs this, when
they declare they know not what it is ; yet its abfence is
well compenfated by innocence ; nor can good fenfe, and a
natural gentility, ever Hand in need of it.

CHAP. III.

7Vhereht the hljlory goes hack to commemorate a trifling in-
cident that happened fome years fince ; hut fwhichy trifling
as it nvaSf had fo7Jie future confequences,

TH F amiable Sophia was now in her eighteenth year,
when Ihe is introduced into this Hillory. Her fa-
ther, as hath been faid, was fonder of her than of aay
other human creature. To her, therefore, Tom Jjones
applied, in order to engage her . interelt on the behalf of
his friend the gamekeeper.

But before we proceed to this bufinefs, a fhort reca-
pitulation of fome previous matters may be necdfary.

Though tlic difiertnt tempers of Mr Allvvorthy and
of Mr Wefteyi did not admit of a very intimate corre»j
ipondence, yet they lived upon what is called a deceni
footing together ; by which means the young people
both families had been acquainted from their infancy ;
as they were all near of the fame age, had been freq
piay-mates together.

The gaiety of Tom's temper, fuited better withi
phia than the grave and fober difpofition of Mr
And the preference which ihe gave the former of

^Wka^i. FOUNDLING. . ify

.•wwid Gift^niapppear fo plainly, that a lad of a more paf-
fionate turn tlian Mr Blifil was, might have fhewn fomc
difpleaiure at it.

As he did not, however, outwardly exprefs any fuch
difgud, it would be an ill office in us to pay a vifit to the
inmoft recefies of his mind, as fome fcandalous people
fearch into- the moft fecret affairs <)f their friends, and often
pry into their clofets and cupboards, only to difcover their
poverty and meannefs to the world.

However, as perfons who fufpeclthey have given othefsf
caufe of oSFence, are apt to conclude they ai*e offended; '
fo Sopliia imputed an aflion of Mr Blifil to his anger,
which the fuperior fagacity of Thwackum and Square dif-
cerned to have arifen from a much better principle.

Tom Jones, when veiy young, had prefented Sophia
with a little bird, which he had taken from the nefl, had
nurfed up, and taught to fing.

Of this bird, Sophia, then about thirteen years old, was
fo extremely fond, that her chief bulinefs was to^ieed and
tend it, and her chief pleafure to play with it. By thefe
means little Tommy, for fo the bird was called, was be*
come fo tame, that it would feed out of the hand of itar
miftrefs, would perch upon her finger, and lie contented
in her bofom, where it leemed almoft fenlible of its owa
happinefs ; though fiie always kept a fmall ilWng abcut its
• leg, nor would ever trull it with the liberty of flying
away.

One day, when Mr All worthy and his whole family
•dined at Mr Weflern's, Mr Blifil, being in the garden
with little Sophia, and obferving the extreme fondnefa
ithat fhe (hewed for her little bird, delired her to trull it for
a moment in his -hands. Sophia prefently complied with
•tke young gentleman's requeft, and after fome previous
caution, delivered him her bird ; of whidi h*was no fooner
pfTeflion, than he flipt the firing from its leg, and
l;#^ the air.
fie i^^ifh animal no fooner perceived itfelf at liberty,
rfoijgctting all the favours it had received from Sophia,
iir diredly from her, and perched on a bough at fonie

>ia» feeing her bird gone, fcreamed out fo loud,
,ld ■"-•-• M

;i^ . Thf H I S T O R y of a Booklf,

,that Tom Jones, who was at a little diftance, immediately
;ran to her affillance.

He then was no fooner informed of what had happen-
,cd, than he curfed Blifil for a pitiful, malicious rafcal ;
and then immediately ftripping off his coat, he appligi
himfclfi:o climbing the tree to which the birdefcaped,

Tom had almoft recovered his little namefake, when tl^
Jbranch on which it was perched, and that hung over
^ canal, broke, and the poor lad plumped oyer head and
.cars into the water.

Sophia's concern now changed its objedl;*^ And as Ihe
apprehended the boy's life was in danger, (he fcreamed
ten times louder than before ; and indeed Mr Blifil himfelf
i^ow feconded her with all the vociferation in his power.

The company, who were fitting in a room next the
garden, were inltantly alarmed, and came all forth ; but
juft as they reached the canal, Tom (for the water w?8
luckily pretty iliallow in that part) arrived fafely on fliore.

Thwackum fell violently on poor Tom, who Hood
<lropping and fhiverhig before him, when Mr Allwor-
thy deiired him to have patience, and turning to Mr
BHfi], fald, Pray, child, what is thp rpafon of all this
.dillurbancc.

Mr Blilil anfivered, ' Indeed, uncl^, I am vei*y forry

* for what I have done ; I have been unhappily the occa-

* fion of it ^11. I had Mifs Sopliia's bird in my hand,
.< and thinking the poor creatUKC languifiied for liberty,

< I own I pculd not'forbear giYiT% it what it defired : for
^ I always thought, there was fouicthing very cruel in con-

* fining any things It fecmed to me agaixift the law of
:,* nature, by which everything hath a right to liberty;

* nay,^t is even unchriiiian ; for it is not dging what we
5 woi^ldbedone by. But if 1 had imagined Miis Sophia

* would hav^beai io muda concerned at it, J am fure I

* would never ^1 a v.e done it ; nay, if I had khow^j^bat
** wculd have jiifpptntd to the bud itielf ; fw,^\

.* Jonts, w.o clin»b^ up that tree alter it,

< water, th^ Liid,^ok a lecond highly and jprf fell
f naiiy haw v cavrita it uvay.' ' *"-;*

rocr »*-*opi:ia, \. It 'row liifl heard of her little Tch
/ate, ('or h coji'.e.r; icr Jones, had prcvtnttd: h^
ccjyjr^ It when it happened), Ihcd-a {lio\\«;r 9if:,t

I.. F'OUNDLlNa tr9

Thcfc Mr Allworthy endeavoured to afluage, promifing
her a much finer bird : but (he declared fhe would never
have another. Her father chid her for crying fo for a
foolifii bird ; but could not help telling young Blifil, if he
was a fon of his, his backfire (hbuld be well flea'd.

Sophia now returned to her chamber, the two young*
gentlemen were fent home, and the reft of the company
returned to their bottle ; where a converfation enfucd on*
the fi^jedi of ,the bird, fo curious, that we think it de-;
lerves a chapter by itfelf^r-

c HAP. iv:

Containing fuch very deep and gave matters ^ that fome read^
erfy perhapsy may not relijh it.

SQUARE had' ria fooner lighted his pipe, than addreff-
ing himfelfto Allworthy, he thus began : * Sir, I can-

* not help congratulating yotf on your' nephew, who, at

* an age when few lads hi^e any ideas but of fenfible ob-

* jedts, is arrived at a capacity of dilUnguKhlng rightr

* from wrong; To confine any thing feems to me agamib

* the law of nature,^ by which every thing* hath a right to"

* liberty. Thefe were his words; and the impreffion they
•"have made on' me is never to- Be eradicated; • Can any

* man have a higher notiottof- the rule of right, and the'
•• eternal fitnefs of things ? I cannot help promifing my-»

* felf from fuch a'd%^, that the meridian of this youth!

* will be equal to that of either the elder or the younger
^ Brutos.*

Here Thwackunt haftily interrqptedi and fpilling fome*
of his wine, and fwallowing the reft with great cageriiefs,
anfwered, * From another expreflion he made ufe of, I*
hf^ he will refemble much better men. The law of
*" ittire is a jargon ofv.words, which means nothing. L
ow not of any fuch law, nor of any right which can
derived from it. To do as we would be done by, is'
1 a Ximftian motive, as the boy well exprefled*
;f, ,and I am glad to find my inftrudions Lave'
fuch good fruit/ .

tjr was a thing fit, (fays SqjiMt'^, \tcw\^xSs^**

rao Th(; H I S T O R Y o« a ; Bapk Wv.

*. dulge fome on th€ fame oGcafioa ; for wheiKre oiily h*^

* can have learnt his notions of right or wrong, I think
*. if pretty apparent. If there be no laW of nature, tkere
\h Po right nor wrong/

Iv'How ! (fays the parfon), do you then banifti revelar

* tion ? Am I talking with a Deill or an Atheift ?'

* Drink about, (iays Weflern), pox of your laws of

* nature. I don't know what you mean either of you byi

< right and wrong. To take away my girl's bird wa»

* wrong, in my opinion 5 and njy neighbour AUwortliy!

* mny do as he pleafes ; but to encourage boys in fuch

* pradliccs, is to breed them up to the gallows.'
Allwprthy anfwere^, « That he was forty for what his

* nephew had done ; but could not confent to punifli him,

* as he ?.<f^ed rather from a generoiis than unworthy mdV

* tive.' Ke faid, ' If the boy had ftolen- the bird, none

* would have been more ready to vote for a fevere chaf*
« tifement than himfelf ; but it was plaiil that- was fltJt

* his deljgn :' and, indeed, it was ad apparent to himv
tliat he could have no other view but. what he had himfolf
avowed. (For as to that malicious purpofe which Sophia
had fufpeiSled, it never once entered into' the head of Mi*
Allworthy ). He at length concluded, with agaicr blaming
the a6lion as inconfideratcj and which, i he faid>) was piarr-'
donableonly in a chfld*: • . ^ . f

Square had delivered his opioion fo openly, that if htf
was now filcnt, he muftftibmlt to haTchSs jadgmeflt ccn-'
fured. He faid therefore, with fome warmth, < Thaff

< Mr Allworthy had too much re£g^§: to the dirty confi-*

* deration of property. That in paiEng: our ' judgihent*

* on great and mighty adiions, all private regarda fhould

* belaidafidc; for, by;^ adhering ta thofc narrowimks^'

* the younger Brutus had been condemned, of ingratitude,)

* and the elder of parricide^*

* And if they ha4 been hanged too for thofe crimDes,*
cried Thwackum, * they would have had. nd more tbfe*

< their deferts, A couple of heathenifh villains ! Hes«(^

* be praifed, we have no BrutuCes now-a days. I

* Mr Square, you "wojald defift from filling the minds 1

* my pupils with fuchi antichriftian ftuff; for the confi
« quence muft be, while they are under my care, its bdnjg

/ wrctf /courged ontof them again. There is youii.r

C&ap. 4. F O tJ N i) L I N a rii

*• ciple Tom" almoft fpoiled already. I overheard him

* the other day difpntiftg with Mr Blifil, that there wa«

• no merit in faith without works. I know tliat is one of

* your tenets, and I fuppofe he had it from you.'

* Don't accufe me of fpoiling him,' fays Square. * Whof

• taught him to laugh at whatever is virtuous and decent^

* and fit and right m the nature of tilings ? He is your
*■ own fchohr^ and I difclaim him. No, no, Mr Blilil is-

* my boy. Young as he is, that lad's notions of moral
•• reftitude I defy you ever to eradicate.'

Thwackum put on a contemptuous fneer at this, and'
reph'ed, * Ay, ay, I will venture him with you. He is

* too well grounded for all your philofophical cant to
''hurt. No, no, I haye taken care to inftil fuch prin-
*' cipfes into him' —

* And I have inftilled principles into him too,' cries
Square. * What but the fublime idea of virtue could in-
'' fpire a human mind with the generous thought of giving

♦ liberty ? And I repeat to you again, if it was a fit thing '

• to be proud, I might claim the honour of having infu-

♦ fed that idea/

* And if pride was not forbidden,' faid Thwackum, * I

♦ might boaft of having taught him that duty which he

* hinifelf afiigned as hFs motive.'

< So,- between you both,' fap the fquire, * the youngs

• gentfeman hath been taught to rob my daughter of her

* bird. I find I mufl take care of my partridge- mew.
'I (hall- have fome virtuous religious man or other fet.

• all^ my partridges at liberty.' Then flapping a gentle-
flian of the law, who was prefent, on the back, he cried
oat, * What fay you to tliia, Mr counfellor? is not this .

• agaiflftlaw?'

The lawyer with gieat gravity delivered himfelf as
lollows :

* If the cafe be put of a partridge, there can be no^

* doubt but an aflion would fie : for though this be Fer^

♦ tNafar^ey yet being reclaimed, property vcfts, bat be-
r.the cafe of a finging bird,, though reclaimed, a 3 it is*

of bafe nature, it muft be confidered 2ts nullhts^
In this cafe, therefore, I conceive the plain-
, be nonfuited ; and I fliould difadvife the briivjr
fudb adion.'

M 3 \

ttt The H I S T a R Y of a Book IV:^

< Well/' fays the fquire, * if it be nu/Iuj' hvnutf let ua*
*^ drink about, hnd talk a little of the ftate of the Aation,

* or fome fuch difcoiirfe that we a*ll underfland ; for I am'

* fure I don't underftand a word of this* It may be*
^ Icarniag and fenfe for aught^ I know; but you fhall

* never perfuade me into it. Pox ! you have neither of
^- you meotioned a word of that poor lad who defefves*
^ .to be commended. To venture breaking his neck to*

* oblige my girl^ was a generous fpiritcd aftion : I have-

* learning enough to fee that. D— n me,, here's Tom's*
^•health. I fkall love the boy for it the longeft day I

< have to live.*

. Thus was the debate interrupted ; but it would probably
have been fooji refumed, had not Mr All worthy prefently
called for his coach, and carried off the two combatants.

, Such was the conclufibn of this adventure of the bird^
and of the dialogue occafionedby it, which we could not'
help recounting to our reader, though it happend fome*
years before that ftage, or period of time, at which out'
hillory is now arrived^ ' .

G H A P. V.

Gontaiuing* matters, accommodated^ to every tajie^

PARV A leves capiunt animos^ * Small things affe^
* light- minds,' was the fentiment of a great raaftcr*
©f the paffion of love And" certain ifc is, that from this-
day Sophia began- to have fome little kindnefa for Tont'
Jones, and.no little averfion for his companion.

Many accidents from time to time improved both thefc I
pafhonti in. her breaft ; which, without out recounting,
the reader may well conclude, from what we have before
hii.ted of the different tempers of thefe lads, and how
much the one fuited witli her. own inclinations more than
the other. To fay- the truth,. Sophiaj when, very youngiJ
diicerned that Tom,, though an idle, thoughtlef», ralj
tling rafcal, was no body's enemy but his own ; and thaf
Ivlr Blifil, tliough' a prudent, difcreet, fober, young gc
iltiUUin, was at the fame, time, ftrongly attached to
jat€rc& oiJ/ of une fingle perfon j and who that ^

tt^. 5. F a ir N^ D L I >T C rijf

perfon was, the reader will be able to divine without
amy af&Hknce of ours.

TheiB|^ill|D chara6ter« are not always received in thtf
world WTO dfcf different regard which feems feverally due
to either^4^ril| which, on$ would imagine, mankind from-
felf-interen^Ffe^ld fli€W towards them. But perhaps
there may be a poRtical reafon for it : in finding one of
a truly benevolent difpofition, men may very reafonably
ftippofe they have found a treafure, and be- defirous of
keeuag^ it, like all other good things, to themfelves.
He&e ihey may imagine, that to trumpet forth the
praifc*i«f fuch a perfon, would, in the vulgar phrafe, be
crying roaft-meat : and calling it partakers of what they
intend to apply folely to their own ufe. If this reafon
does not fatisfy the reader, I know no other means of ac-
counting for the little refpedl which I have commonly
fcen paid to a chara6ker which really does great honour to
human nature, and is produdlive of the high eft good to
fodety, Bxit it was otherwife with Sophia. She honour-
ed Tom Jones, and fcomed Mr Blifil, almoft as^foon as ifhe
knew the meaning of thofe two words.

Sophia had been abfent upwards of three yeats with her

taunt ; during all which time (he had feldom feen either of
thefe young gentlemen. She dined, however, once, to-
gether with her aunt, at Mr Allworthy's. This was a
i few days after the adventure of the partridge, before com-
I memoratedw Sophia heard the whole ftory at t ble, where
I fhe faid nothing 5 nor indeed could her aunt get many
f words from her as fhe returned home ; but her maid, when
undreffing her, happening to fay, *^ Well, Mifs, I fuppofe

* you have feen young Mr Blifil to-day ;' fhe anfwered
vn\h much paffion, < I hate the^ name of Mr Blifil as I do
'•whatever is bafe and treacherous; and I wonder Mr
' Allworthy would fufFer that old barbarous fchoolmailer
♦"to punifti ? poor boy fo cruelly for what was only the

* eSeGi of liis good nature.' She then recounted the ftory
jiA her maid, and' cortcluded with faying, — * Don't you

^'lllifik he is a boy of a noble fpirit V
i^^s young lady was now returned to her father ; who
B her the command of his houfe, and placed her at
V|pper end of his table, where Tom (who from his.
||i hcr^ o£ hunting was become a ^eat &xqn3x>^^ >^1

124^ The: K I S T G R Y of a Book 1%

Ae {tlvdpY often dined. Young men of open^ generoua*-
difpofittons arc naturally inclined to gallantry, which, ift
tbty have good undcrftandings, as was in reality Ji'om'ft
cafe, exerts itfclf in an obliging, complaifant behaviour tOf
all women in general. This greatly diftinguiftied Tom»
from the boifteroiis brutality or mere country fquires oa^
the one hand ; and from the foleran, arid fomewhat fullem

^ deportment of Mr Blifil on the other : and he began now^t
at twenty, to have the name of a pretty fellow, among all*
the women in the neighbourhood.

Tom behaved to Sophia with no particularity^ uiJefff^
perhaps, by fhewing her a higher refpe^ than he* patd^
to any other. This diftindion her beauty, fortune, fenfe^
and amiable carriage, feemed to demand : but as to de-'
fign upon her perfon he had none ; for which wc fhall at
prefent fuffer the reader to condemn him of ftupidity p
but perhaps we fhall be able indifferently w^eU to acooost
for it hereafter.

Sophia, with the higheft degree of innocence and mo^-
defty^ had a remarkable fprightlinefs in her temper. This*
was fo greatly increafed whenever Aie"was in compan]^
with ToB\^ that, had he not been very young and thought-
lefs^ he muft have obferved it ; or had not Mr Weftera'»
thoughts been, generally either in the field, the flable,:
or the dog-kennel, it might have, perhaps^ created fome
jcaloufy in him : but fo far was the good gentleman fromi .
entertaining any fuch fufpicions> that he gave Tom every*
• opportunity with his daughter which any lover could have^
wifhed. And this Tom innocently improved to better ad^'
vantage^ by following only the dictates of his natural galw
lantry and good nature, than he mi;^ht, perliaps, have done>.

* ,had he had the deepell defigns on the young lady.

But indeed, it can occafion little wonder, that this*
matter efcaped the obfervation of others, fincc poor So-^
phia berfcljf never remarked it ; and her heart was irretric-' -
vably loft before fhe fufpe<Elcd It was in danger.

Matters were in this fituatlon, when Tom one after-f j
noon finding Sophia alone, began, after a fhort apology^i
with a very ferious face,, to acquaint her, that he. had i
favour to aflc of hep, which he hoped her goodnefs
comply with.

TJiou^ neither the young man's behaviour^ xwc :

(Jitwlj. - F O U^ N I> LIN a iiy

d»4 hw ': ^aifner of opening thia bufinefs, were fncb as
codl4 K^^ b^r any juft caufe of fufpedSng be intended toi
nkalc^ (ote to ber ; yet whetber nature wbifpered fonae*'
tbiBg into ber ear, or from wbat caufe it arofc, I will not
(Jetermme, certain it is, fome idea of tbat kind muft
have intuidcjd itfelf ; for her colour forfook ber cbeeks,-
ber limbs trembled, and ber tongue would bave faukered,
had Tom ftopped for aft arifwer : but he foon relieved ber
from ber perplexity, by proceeding to inform ber of bis
requeft, which was to folicit ber interell on bdialf of
the ^mekeeper, wbofc own ruiri, and tbat of a large
family, muft be,, be faid, the confequence of Mr Weftern^s^
purfuing bis aftion againft him.

- Sophia prcfently recovered her eonfiiiVon, and with ai
fmile full of fwcetncfs, faid^ < Is this the mighty favour

* yoii afked with fo much grivity ? I will do it with all/

* my heart. I really pty tbe-pooi* fellow, and no longer;
« ago than yefterday fcnt a fmall matter to bis wife.*
Thts fii^all matter was one of ber govsmsj fomc linen, and^
ten' (hillings in money, of which Tom had beard, and»
it bad in reality, put this folicitation in bis bead.

Our youthy now emboldened with bis fuccefs, refolved
topdih the matter farther : and ventured even to beg. her/
rteotamendation of him to her father's fervicc y protfcfting,^
that he thought, him one of the bonefteft MIowb in trte
ccnrntry, ana extremely well qualified for the place of ^
gamekeeper, which luckily-then happened to be vacaiit^"

Sophia anfwered, * Well, I will undertake this too;
*.hutX cannot promifc youa^ much fuccefs as in the for-
tifier part, which I affure you I will not quit my fa-
*:tl]^* without obtaining. However^ I will do what L
^ can for the poor fellow;? for I fincerely look upon him
*5iiid his family as ob]e(9:8 of great compalEon-- — ^Andl

* now, Mr Jones, I muft a(k you a favour'—
:'«'Afavout! Madhm, (cries Tom), if you knew the

f^pleafure you have given me in the hopes of receiving-
ili^mmand from you, yoa wonld think by mentioning
jl^Jrba muft confer the greateft favour on me i for, by

* ** ?dcar hand, I would facrifice my life to oblige you.*
iten-ihatched her band, and eagerly kiffed it, which
IdC'firft tim^e his lips bad ever touched^ her. The;
4:#hicli before bad forfakea hen cheeks^ now: toade

tz6 TheHISTORrofa BobkWi'

her fufficient amends, by rufhing all over her fece and
neck with fuch violence, that they became all of a fcarlet>
colour. She now firft felt a fenfation to which Ihe had'
been before a ftrangcr, and which, when ihe had leifure-
to refleft on it, began to acquaint her with fome fecrets,^
which the reader, iif he does not already gueis them, will*
know in due time.

Sophia, as foon as (he could fpeak, (which was^^ not in-
ftantly), informed him that the favour fhe had to defire-
of him was, not to lead her father through fo many dan-
gers in hunting ; for that^ from what (he had heard, (he-
was tenibly fnghtened every time they went out toge-
ther, and expeded fome day or other to fee her father
brought home with broken limbs. She therefore beg-
ged him, for her fake, to be more cautious ; and, as he-
Well knew Mr Weftem would follow him, not to ride fo'
madly, nor to take thofe dangerous leaps for the future.

Tom promifed faithfully to obey her xrommands ; and,'
after thanking her for her kind compliance with his rc-'^
queft, took his leave, and departed highly charmed with*
his fuGcefs..

Poor Sophia was charmed too ; but in a very diJSFerent-
way. Her fenfations, however, the reader's heart (if he-
or (he have any) will better reprefent than I can,- if I had'
as many mouths as ever poet wiflied for, to eat, I fuppofe,'
thofe many dainties with which he was (b plentifully pro--
vided. "

: It was Mr We(Fcrtt'8 cuftom every afternoon,^ as foon as-
he was drunk, to hear his daughter play on the harpG-*
chord: for he was a great lover of tnuflc, and, perhaps,*
had he lived in town, might have^paiTed for a comioi(reur :*
for he always excepted againfl. the fineft compofitions oP
Mr HandeL He never reliihed any muiic but what was^
light and airy ; and indeed his moft favoimgte tunes were,'
Old Sir:Simon the King, St George he was for England,*
Bobbing Joan, and fome others. , ^

His daughter,, though (he was a perfe6^ miftrefs of mu-'
fic, and would never willingly have played any but Han-*
del's, was fo devoted to her father's pleafure, that ilfcf*
learnt ail thofe tunes to oblige him. However, "ftcf.
would now and then endeavour to lead him into her *o»l|l^^
isdc, and when he re(]uired the repitition of hk' ba^

m^p^j. , F O U N D JL I N G, i^

'Would anfwer with a * Nay, dear Sir ;* ^nd would often
beg him to fufFer her to play fomething elfe.

Phis evening, however, when the gentleman was re-
tired from his bottle, fhc played all his favourites three
♦imes over, without any felicitation. This fo pleafed the
good fquire, that he ftarted from his couch, gave his
daughter a kifs, and fwore her hand was greatly improv-
;Cd, She took this opportunity to execute her promife to
Tom, in which (he fucceeded fo well, that the fquire de-
clared, if (he would give him t'other bout of Old Sir
Simon, he would give the gamekeeper his deputation the
>next morning. Sir Simon was played again and agaio^
till the charms of the muiic foothed Mr Weftern to lieep.
In the morning Sophia did not fail to remind him of his
-engagement ; and his attorney was immediately fent for
and ordered to Hop any further proceedings is the adtion,
SLTid to make out the deputation.

Tonics fucv .'*s in this affair foon began to ring over the
country, and various were the cenfures paft upon it;
fome greatly applauding it as an a£l of good nature ; o-
thers fneering, ^ud faying, 'No wonder that one idler
* fellow fliould loye anotlier.' Young Blifil was greatly-
enraged at it. He had long hated Black Gr^^rge in the
lame proportion as Jones delighted in him ; ^t from any
offence which he had ever received, but from his great
love to religion and v^tu%; for Black George had the re-
putation of a loofe kind of a fellow. Blifil, therefore^
reprefcnted this as flying in Mr AUworlhy's face ; and
declared with great concern, that it was impofiible to
iind any other motive for doing good to fuch a wretch.

Thwackum and Square likewife fung to the fame tune :
they were now, (efpecially the latter) become greatly jea-
Jous of. young J ones wit^ the widow ; for he now ap-
. preached the age of tvvent^fctt^as really a fine young fel-
low, and that lady^ by ht/cjicoui*agements to him, leemed
:.4aily mqre.ao^^^e to tnink hini io.
» Ailword^j^^lt^t, hpwever, moved with their ma-
lice. H^pK^BiLhimfeU' very well iatisfied with what
;>JoiKS had do^e,^^*M£: iaid, the perfeverance and integrity
4^'bi9 friendihip wf5 highly commendable, arxd he wifhcd he
^0i&l(d fee more ii^quent inltaaces of that virtue.

^^ The HISTORY of* Bj^ilSfe

But Fortune, who feldoi?i greatjy reliftv^ &/qIi i^iwto
as my friend Tom, perhaps becaufe iUcy 4o notp^yrmk
aixlcnt addrelTes to her, gave now a very difTerent tutn to
•all his adions, 'and (htwed them to Mr Allworthy in a
light far lefs agreeable than that gentleman's goodnefshad
hitherto feen them in.

CHAP. VI.

,i^/; apology^ for the infenfthUity of Mr Jones to all the charms
of the lovely Sophia ; in ^hichy pojjibly^ nx^e mayy in a
conjiderahle degree^ lo<vjer his character in the ejiimation of
thofe men ofnuit and gallantry nx) ho approve i be heroes
vioft of our modern comedies.

THEEE are two forts of people who, I am afraid,
have already conceived fome contempt for my heroj
on account of his behaviour to Sophia. The former o£
thefe will blame his prudence in neglecting an opportunit
ty lo pofiefs himfclf of Mr Weilern's fortune; and the
latter will no lefs defpife him for his backwardiiefs to fo
fine a girl, -woo feemed ready to £y into his arms, . if he
: would open them to receive ker.

Now, though I (hall not, p^haps, be able abfolutely
»to acquit him of either of tliefe charges ; (for want of pru-
dence admits of no excufe ; and what I fhall produce a*
gainft the latter charge will, I apprehend, be fcarce fetis-.
fa<5lory;) yet, as evidence may fometimes be offered in |
mitigation, I (hall fet forth the plain matter of fadl, and 1
•leave the whole to the reader's determination. : ^ ' J

Mr Jones had fomewhat about him which, though! 1
think writers are not thoroi^^ly agreed in its name, doth i
certainly inhabit fome human breails ; whofe ufe is not I
properly to diflinguKh right from wrong, as to pronfpt
and incite them to the former, and to rdflrain and withf*
hold thtm from the latter. • . . it

•TMs fomewhat may be indeed refembled to the fkttioq^ : \
trunkmaker in the playhoufe ; for whenever the ; perfin* '.
who is pofTefFed of it doth what is right, no raviih^d -^
friendly fpe£lator is fo eager or fo loy4 in his apptfLi '" '

^gi^,ai.^..^illiii

<*fp, &' FOUNDLING. Z29

on the cofltrary, when he doth wrong, no critic is fo apt
to hifs and explode him.

To give a higher idea of tlie principle I mean, as well
as one more familiar to the prefent age, it may be confi-
dered as fitting on its throne in the mind, like the Lord
High Chancellor of this kingdom in his court ; where
it prefides, governs, direfts, judges, acquits, and condemns,
according to merit and juilice ; with a knowledge .which
nothing efcapes, a penetration which nothing can deceive, ^
and an integrity which nothing can corrupt.

This a£live principle may, perhaps, be faid to confti-
tute the moll efiential barrier between us >and our neigh-
bours the brutes ; for if there be fo?n^ in the human fhapc
who are not under any fuch dominion, I chufe rather to
confidcr them as deferters from us to our neighbours ; a-
mong whom they will have the fate of dcfevtei*s, and not
be placed in the firil rank.

Our hero, whether he derived it from Thwackum or
Square I will not determine, was very ftrongly under the
guidance of this principle : for though he did not always
ad rightly, yet he never did otherwlfe, without feeling and •
fufFcring for it. It was this which taught him, that to
repay the civilities and little friendfliips of hoipitality, by
robbing the houfe where you have received them, is to be
the baftil and meaneft of theivcs. He did not think the
bafenefs of this offence lefTened by the height of the in-
jury committed ; on the contrary, if to ileal another's
plate deferved death and infamy, it feemed to him diiiicult
to affign a punifhmcnt adequate to the robbing a man of
his whole fortune, and of his chihl Into the bavoian.

This principle, therefore, prevented him from any
thought of imking his fortune by fuch means, (for this,
as I have faid, is an a<!ilive principle, and doth not content
it(elf with knowledge or belief only). Had he been
greatly enamourv'd with Sophia, he pofiibly might have
Siought otherwife ; but give me leave to fay, there is
great difference betwtcn running away with a man's
Sauighter from the motive of love, and doing the fame
^tine from the motive of theft.

HO^f though this young gentleman was not ir.fenfiblc
"Ue' charms of Sophia, thougVi he greatly likt^d her
* y, and ellccmed all her other cv^uUdNi^UQw^^ ^^V5x\ V

■rf: . ** i

■ ah,.:.- ' . .-

"f<^'i

nr^ ^

fbc ^^^\^„reBoti ba hiVlfea^]

' _^ ^ f^abh to the charge of flttpldity,
V **'?'C!3^^'^/r5^^' ^^ ^^^^ "ow proceed to

^r>

jjis heart was in the pofleflion of a-

-fA ^^Tjjre I queftion not but the reader will

jvr iouE taciturnity as to this matter,

^^lirf^^'^^^ 7ofs ^ divine who this woman was, fince

gttd ^^^^l^crto not dropt a hint of any one likely to b?

^ *'*^ Sop^^^ ' ^^^ ^® ^^ ^^^^ Blifil, though we have

' '^^^^^hVfred to mention fome fufpicions of her afFedion

^^"rfJ^^e have not hitherto given the leaft latitude

^'^^ ' grrimpg; that he had any for her; and, indeed, I

^^{bnj to W ^^> ^"^ ^^^ youth of both fexes are too

^ to he deficient in their gratitude for that regard with

^^ich ptrfons more advanced iji years are fometimes fo

^tid to honour them.

That the reader may be no longer in fufpenfe, he will
2je pleafed to remember, that we have often mentioned
the family of George Seagrim, (commonly called Black
Cfccrge the gam.eketper), which confiiltd at prefent cf» >,
ivife and five children.

The fecord of thefe children was a daughter, whofci
name was Molly, and who was eileemcd one of the haiid^'
ibmeft girls in the whole country.

Congifcvc well fays, there is in true beauty fomethind
fltvhich vulgar fouls cr.nnot admire ; fo can no dirt or rag*
hide thJ3 iomethiiig from thofe fouls which are not of tli^J
the vulgar ikn1p.

The beauty of this girl made, however, no impreilio]
on Tom, till Pn^ grew towards the age of Hxtecn, whei
Tom, jvho was near three years older, began ilrft to c;
the eyes of alft<ftiGn upon her ; and this afiediori he li
iixed on the girl Icng btfore he could bring himfelf
attempt the pofTtfiion of her per/on : for though his o
llitulion urged him greatly to this, his principles no 1
forcibly rel [rained him. To debauch a young worn;
however low her condition was, appeared to him a v(
heinous evince ; and the good wil) he boiethe father, w.

j-oborated u'l i\\d\ ieber re

e ccni] nil- on he had for l>is family, very itroBi^y

io thai lie orce refc|
cd to gu ;i:c belter of his iucliu'^licns, and he adiS

C&ap. 6. FOUNDLING. H^

abftained three whole months without ever going to Sea-
grim'a houfe, or feeing his daughter.

Now, though Molly was, as we have faid, generally
thought a very. fine girl, and in reality (he was fo, yet
her beauty was not of the mofl amiable kind. It had ia-
.deed very little of feminine in it, and would have become
a man, at leail, aj well as a woman ; for, to fay the
•truth, youth and florid health had a very confiderable Iharc
in the compoiition.

Nor was her mind more efFemmate than hef perfon. As
this was tall and robuit, fo was that bold and forward.
So little had ftie of modcily, that Jones had more regard
for her virtue than fhe hcrfeif. And as mod probably ihe
iiked Tom as well as he liked her, {o when fhc perceived
his backwardnefs, ihe herfeif grew proportionably forward j
and when fhe faw he had entirely deferted the houfe, (he
found means of throvving hei^felf in his way, and behaved
in fuch a manner, that the youth muft have had very much, "
>r very little of the hero, if her endeavours had proved un-
- thk-fsfah In a word, Ihe foon triumphed over ail the

* rare,i5 refolutions of Jones : fi)v thoug'i iliz behaved at

* they \ all decent reladance, yet I ratii;:r c^iuie to attri-

* Worfhi^riumph to her ; iince, in fa^t, it was her defiga

* opin^^iceedcd.

* %t'the couduC^ of this matter, I fay, Molly fo well
jilayed her part, that Jones attributed the conqueil entirely
to himfelf, and confidered the young woman as one who
had yielded to the violent attacks of his paffion. He like-
wife imputed her yielding to the ungovernable force of her
love towards him ; and this the reader will ailow to have
been a very natural and probable fuppofition, as we have
more than once mentioned the uncommpn comelinefs of hia
perfon : and indeed he was one of the handfomeil: young
fellows in the world.

As there are fome minds whofs afte^lions, like Mr Bli-
:4?a are folely placed on one fmgle perfon, whofe intereifc
;and indulgence "alone they conhder on every occalion ; re-
fgarding the good and ill of all others as merely indilfsrent,
aasy farther than as they contribute to the pleafure or ad-
tlfttage of that perfon : fo there is a different temper ot
tJj^df which borrows a degree of virtue even from feif-loveir
^ can never receive any kind of fatisfaclioa froxiv ano-

^Mi

#•

-i

,t44 The HISTORY of a Book IV;

* tori' cries Weft em, * I thought itHnight have been fome

* public matter, fome thing about the nation.'

* I am afraid it is too coihmon, indeed,' anfi^ered the
parfon, * but I thought the whole ftory all together defer-

* ved commemorating. As to national matters, your

* Worfhip knows them belt. My concerns extend no far-

* ^her than my own parifli.* .

* Why, ay,' foys the fquire, ' I believe I do know a little

* of that matter, as you fay ; but, come, Tommy, drink

* about, the bottle ftands with you.'

Tom begged to be excufed, for that he had particular
ibufmcfs ; and getting up from table, efcaped the clutches
of the fquire, who was rifmg to flop him, and went off
with very little ceremony.

The fcjuire gave him a good curfe at his departure ; and
then turning to the parfon, he cried out, * 1 fmoke it, I

* fmoke it : Tom is certainly the father of this baftanL

* Zooks, parfun, you remember how he recommended the

* veather o' her to me. — D — n un, what a fly b-— ch "'tis.

* • y>*^y> as fu^c as two pence Tom is the veather of tht

* battard.'

* I (hould be forry for that,' fays the parfon.

* Why forry ?' cries the fquire, * where is the mighty

* matter o't ? What, I fuppofe, doft pretend that thee haft

* never got a baftard ! Pox ! more good luck's thine : for

* I warrant haft a done therefor many 's the good time arid

* often,* * Your Worfhip is pkafed to be jocular,' an-
fwered the parfon : *but I do not onlj animadvert on the

* fmfulnefs of the aftion, though that furely is to be great*

* ly deprecated ; but I fear his unrighteoufnefs may injure
^ him with Mr All worthy. And truly I muft fay, though

* he hath the chara6ler of being a little wild, J never faw

* any harm in the young man 5 nor can I fay I have heard

* any, fave what your Worfliip now mentions. I wifh, in-

* deed, he was a little more regular in his refponfes- at

* church ; but altogether he feems

* Ingenui vultus puer ingenutque gudoris^

* That is a claflical line, young lady, and being rcndfer--

* ed into Englifh, is, " A lad of an ingenuous countenancci
** and of an ingenuous modefty :" * for this was a virtue itt

* great repute both among the J-atins and Greeks, tmuft

€&ap. lb, FOUNDLING. H5

* fay the young gentleman (for fo, I thint, I' may call
' him, notwithffanding his birth) appears to me a very

* modell civil lad, and I fhould be forry that he fhould do

* liimfelf any injury in Squire All worthy's opinion.*

* Poogh !' fays the fquire, * Injury with Allworthy 1
« Why Allworthy loVes a wench himfelf. Doth not all

* the country know whofe fon Tom is ? You muft talk to

* another perfon in that manner. I remember Alfworthy
« at college.'

* I thought,' faid the parfon, * he had ncyer been at the

* univerfity.'

* Yes, yes, He was,' fays the fquire, * and many a wench

* hav^ we two had together* As arrant a whoremafter as
« any within five miles o' um No, no. It will do'n no

* harm with he, aflure yourfelf ; nor with any body elfe»
*: Afk Sophia tliere You have not the worfe opinion of

* a young fellow fer getting a baftard, have you girl ? No^

* no, the women will like uh the better for't.*

This was a cruel queflion to poor Sophia, She had
obferved Tom's colour change at the parfon's flory ; and
^at, with his hafty and abrupt departure, gave her fufii-
cient reafoa to think her father's fufpicion not groundlefs*
Hei' heart now, at once, difcovered the great fecret to her,
'•^hich it had been fo long dlfclofmg by little and little j
and (lie found herfelf highly incerefted in this matter. la
Aich a lituation, her father's malapert queftibn rufhing fud-
denly upon her, produced fome fyptoms which might have
alarmed a fufpicious heart; but to do the fc^uire jufticej
that was not his fault. When Hie rofe, therefore, from her
chair, and told him, a hint from him was always fufiicicnt to
x&ake her withdraw, he fuffered her to leave the room ; and
then with great gravity of countenance, remarked, * That

* it was better to fee a daughter over modeft than 'over
forward:' afentiment which was highly applauded by the
parfon.

There now enfued between the fquire and the parfon a

moll excellent political difcourfe, framed out of news-pa*»

pers and political pampliltts ; in which they made a libation

^ of four bottles of wine to the good of their country ; and

^ ;then the fquire being faft afleep, the parfon lighted his

^ *-/jije.. mounted his horfe, and rode home.

>, WbsQ the fauirc bad fmifhed his h3il{-ha\3kX*^ xi-^v>\iR.-

s ■ TV-,: . o $

i3' :.' . ^

14^ Hie H I S TO R Y ofa Book I^*

fummoned his daughter to her harpfichord; but fhe beg-
ged to be excufed that evening, on account of the violent
head-ach. This remiffion was prefently granted : for in-
deed (he feldotn had occaiion to afk him twice, as he loved
her with fuch ardent afFcdlion, that by gratifying her, he
commonly conveyed the highelt gratiiication to himfelfl
She was really what he frequently called her, his little dar-
ling, and' (he well deferved to be fo ; for fhe returned all
his afFeftions in the moft ample manner. She had pre-
ferred the moil inviolable duty to liim in all things ; and
this her love made net only eafy, but fo delightfiil, that
when one of her companions laughed at her for placing fo
much merit in fuch fcrupulous obedience, as that young
lady called it, Sophia anfwered, * You miftake me, Madam»

* if you think I value myfelf upon this account : for, be-

* fides that I am barely difcharging my duty, I am like-
^ wife pleafing myfelf. I can truly fay, I have no delight

* cqua.1 to that of contributing to my father's happinefs ;

* and if T value myfelf, my dear, it is having this power,

* and not on executing it.*

This was a fatisfatlion, howevei*, ' w^hich poor Sophia
was incapable of tafting this evening. She therefore not
only deli red to be excufed from her attendance at the harp-
fichord, but likewiie begged that he would fufPcr her to
abi'tiit herfelf from fupper. To this requeft likewife the
fquire agreed, though not without fome reiuftance ; for he
fcarct ever jK.rmitte4 her to be out of his iight, unlefs when
lie wa» engaged with his horfes, dogs, or bottle- Never-
thcleis he yielded to the defire of his daughter, though
the poor man -was, at that time, obliged to avoid his owo
company, (if I may fo exprefs myfelfj, by fending for a
Bcighbouriag farmer to fit with him.

C H A P. XT.

The narroiv efcape of Molly Seagrtnij luith fome ohfervation^
for nvLich ive have been forced to dive pretty deep inH
nature,

TOM Jones had ridden one of Mr Weftern's horfe»
that morning in the chace ; fo that having no borfe
of his Qvm in the r<][uire'6 liable, he was obliged to ga

aap. II. FOUNDLING. 147

home on foot : this he did fo expeditioufly, that he ran
upwards of three miles within the half hour,

Juft as he arrived at Mr Allworthy's outward gate, he
met the conftable and company, with Molly in their pof-
feflion, whom they were conducing to that houfe where
the inferior fort of people may learn one good Icffon, viz.
refpe6l and deference to their fuperiors ; fince it muft (hew
them the wide diftindlion fortune intends between thofe
perfons who are to be corrected for their faults, and
thofe who are not ; which lefTon, if they do not learn, I
ain afraid they very rarely learn any other good leffon, or
improve their morals, at the houfe of corredion.

A lawyer may, perhaps, think Mr All worthy exceeded
his authority a little in this inftance. And, to fay the
truth, I queftion, as here was no regular information before
him, whether his condudl was ftri(Sly regular. However,'
as his intention was truly upright, he ought to be excufed
in /oro confcientia ; fince fo many arbitrary adls are daily
committed by magiftrates who have not this excufe to plead
for themfelves.

Tom was no fooner inforaied bv the conftable whither
they were proceeding, (indeed he pretty well gueffed it
of himfelf), than he caught Molly in his arms, and, em-
bracing her tenderly before them all, fwore he would
murdvr the fir ft man who offered to lay hold of her. He
bid her dry her eyes, and be comforted 5 for where-ever
{he went, he v^ould accompany her. Then turning to the
conftable, who ftood trembling with his hat off, he
-defiled him, in a very mild voice, to return with him for
a moment only to his father, (fo he now called All wor.
thy) ; forhedurft, he faid, be affured, that when he had
alledged what he had to fay in her favour, the girl would
be difi:harged.

The conftable, who, T make no doubt, would have fur-
rendered his prifoner, had Tom demanded her, very rea-
dily confcrited to this rcqueft. So back they all went
into Mr Allworthy's hall ; where Tom defired them to
ftay till his return, and then went himfelf in purfuit of
tbe good^ man. i^s foon as he was found, Tom threvr
- i> feimielf at his feet, and having begged a patient hearing,
.- «Onftfil'd himfdf to be the father of the child, of whidi

148 The H I S T O R Y of a Book IVt

Molly was then big. He intreated him to have compaffioa
on the poor girl, and to confider, if there was any guilt
in the cafe, it lay principally at his door.

* If there is any guilt in the cafe !' anfwered Allwor-
thy warmly, * Are you then fo profligate and abandoned

* a libertine, to doubt whether the breaking the laws of

* God and man, the corruption and ruining a poor girl

* be guilt ? * I own, indeed, it doth lie principally upon

* you, and fo heavy it is, that you ought to expe<4 it

* fliould cru(h you.*

* Whatever might be my fate,' fays Tom, * let ifte

* fucceed in my iDterceffions for the poor girl. I confeff^

* I have corrupted her ; but whether flie mall be ruined,-

* depends on you. For Heaven's fake, ^Sir, revoke your
^ warrant, and do not fend her to a place which muft un--

' V* avoidably prove her deftrudion.'

Allworthy bid him immediately call a fervant, Tom^
anfwered, there was no occalion 5 for he had luckily met
them at the gate, and relying upon his goodnefs had
brought them airback Into his hall, where they now waited
his hnal refolution, which, upon his knees, he befought
him might be in favour of the girl ; that fhe might be
permitted to go home to her parents, ;ind not be expol'ed'
to a greater degree of fliame and fcorn that muil neceuarily
fall upon her. * I know,' faid he, * that is too much.

* I know I am the wicked occafion of it. 1 ^'ill endca—
< vour to make amends, if poUible ; and if you fhall have
« hereafter the goodnefs to forgive me, I hope I fhall de*

* ferve it.'

Allworthy hetitated fomc time, and at laft faid, « WelF

* I will'difchargt my mittiums. — You may fend the con-

* f^able to me.' — He was inftantly called, difcharged,^
and fo was the girl.

It will be believed that Mr Allworthy failed not tO'
read Tom a very fevere le6i:ure on this occafion ; but it
is unnccefTary to infert it here as we have faitlifully tran-
fcribed what he faid to Jenny Jones in the firll book, mofl
of which may be applied to the men, equally with the
women. So fenfiblc an effeft had thefe reproofs on the
young man, who was no hardned finner, that he retired tofi
his own room, where he pafTed the evening alone, iaiouc]^
mchocholy cofttemplation.

Chap, in FOUNDLINa 149

Allworthy was fufficiently offended by this tranfgref-
fion of Jones ; for, notwithftanding the aflertion of Mr
Weftern, it is certain this worthy man had never indulged
himfelf in any loofe pleafures with women, and greatly
condemned the vice of incontinence in others. Indeed
thej-e is niuch reafon to imagine that there was not the leaft
truth in what Mr Weftern affirmed, efpecially as he laid the
fcene of thofc impurities at the univerfity, where Mr
Allworthy had never been. In fa6^, the good fquire was
a little too apt to indulge that kind of pleafantry which is
generally called rhodomontade ; but which niay, with as-
muc)i propriety, be exprefled by a much fhorter word ;
ind, lierhaps, we too often fupply tlie ufe of this little
mbnoly liable by others ; fince very much of what fre-
quently pafTes in the world for wit and humour, fhould, iij
the ftri<5left purity of language, receive that {hort appella-
tion, which, in conformity to the well-bred laws of cuftom^
J here fupprefs.

But whatever deteftation Mr Allworthy had to this or;
to any other vice, he was not fo blinded by it, but that
he could difcern any virtue in the guilty perfon, as clearly,
indeed, as if there had been no mixture of vice in the fame
chara£ler. While he was angry, therefore, with the in-
continence of Jones, he was no lefs pleafcd with the ho-
nour and honefty of his felf-accufation. He began novr
to fonn in hia mind the fame opinion of this yOiing feilow,
which we hope our reader may have conceived. And in
balancing his faults with his perfedlions, the latter feemed
rather to preponderate.

It was to no putpofe, therefore, that Twackum, who
was immediately charged by Mr Blifil with the ftory,
unbended all his rancour againft poor Tom. Allworthy
gave a patient hearing to their inveftives, and then an-
Iwered coldly ; * That young men of Tom^s complexion

* were too generally addid^cd to this vice ; but he believed

* that youth was fincercly afFe£ted with what he had £sL\d

* to him on the occafion, and he hoped he would not tranf*

* grcfs again.* So that, as the days of whipping were
ift an end, the tutor had no other vent but his own mouth
ftr his gall, the ufual |>oor refourcc of impotent revenge.

- ®ut Square, who was a lefs violeot, was a much more

■^^i.

"^,

150 The H I S T O R Y of a Book IV;

artful man ; and as he hated Jones more, perhaps, than
Thwackum himfelf did, fo he contrived to do him more
mifcliief in the mind of Mr Allworthy.

The reader mull remember the feveral little incidenti
of the partridge, the horfe, and the bible, which were
recounted in the fecond book ; by all which Jones had
rather improved than injured the affedlion which Mr All-
worthy was inclined to entertain for him. The fame, I
believe, muft have happened to him with every other per-
fon who hath any idea of friendfhip, generofity, and great-
nefs of fpirit ; that is to fay, who hath any traces of good*
oefs in his mind.

Square himfelf was not unacquainted with the true im-
prellion which thofe feveral inllancts.of goodnefs hadmadc
on the excellent heart of Allworthy ; for the philofopher
very well knew what virtue was, though he was not al-
ways, perhaps, fteady in its purfult ; but as for Thwack-
um, from what reafon I will not determine, no fuch
thoughts ever entered into his head : he faw Jones in a bad
light, and he imagined Allworthy fa\V him in the fame ;
but that he was. reiolved, from pride and llubbornnefs of
fpirit, not to give up the boy whom he h?id once cherifhed i
fince, by fo doing,j he mull tacitly acknowledge that hift
former opinion of him had been .\\Tong. ,.
\. Square therefore embraced this opportunity of inju-
aJP^ Jones in the tenderell part, by giving a rery^d
tiu*a to all thefe before-mentioned occurrences. * J am

* fony, Sir,' fald he, ' to own I have been deceived as

* well, as yourftlf. I could not, I confefs, help being

* pleafed with what I afcribed to the motive of frlend-
% ihfp, though it was carried to an excefs, and all excefs

* is faulty and vicious ; but in this I made allowance for

* youth. Little did I fufped that the facrlfice of truth,
< which we both imagined to have been made to friendship,

* was, in reality, a proftitution of it to a depraved and
.* debauched appetite. You now plainly fee whence aU

* the feeming generofity of this young man to the family

* of the gamekeeper proceeded. He fupported the fa-

* ther, in order to corrupt the daughter, and preferved

* the family from llarving, to bring one of them to fhamc

* and ruin. This is friendihlp ! this is generofity I A»
' Sir, Richard i>tecle fays^ « Gluttons who give high pri»

Chap. T2. FOUNDLING* 151

** ces for delicacies, are very worthy to be calkd getiCf
*« rous." In fliort, I am refolved, from this initance,

• never to give way to the weaknefs of human nature more,

• nor to thinJ^ any thing virtue which doth not exa^Uy
« quadrate with the unerring rule of right.'

The goodnefs of AUworthy had prevented thofe con-,
fiderations from occuring to himfelf ; yet were they too
plauiible to be abfolutely and hailily rejedcd, whe^i laid
tefore his eyes by another. Indeed whit Square had laid
funk very deeply into his mind, and the uneafinefs which
it there created, was very yilible to the other ; though the

food man would not acknowledge this, but made^a very
ight anfwer, and forcibly drove off the difcourfe to fo'me
other fubjedl. It was well, perhaps, for poor Tom, that
no fuch fuggeftions had been made before he was pardoned }
for they certainly Itamped in the mind of AUworthy th«
£ril bad impreilion concerning Jones.

CHAP.. XII.

Contaimng mtich clearer matters ; hut ix)hich floiv from thi
the fajue fountain 'witi thofe in the preceding chapter,

THE reader will be pleafed, I believe, to return with
me to Sophia. She pafled the night, after we faw
^er laft, in no very agreeable manner. Sleep befriended
her but little, and dreams lefs. In the morning, whea
Mrs Honour her maid attended her, at the umahhour, fiie
was found already up and drefl.

Perfons wko live two or three miles diftance in the
country, are conhdered as next door neighbours and tran-
fadlions at the one houfe fly with incredible celerity to the
other. Mrs Honour, therefore, liad heard the whole
ftory of Molly's fliame ; which flie, being of a very com-
municative temper, had no fooner entered the apartmer^t
of her miilrefs, than flie began to relate in the following
manner :

"< La, Ma'am, what doth your La'lhip think ? the girl
• < that your La*{hip faw at church on Sunday, whom you.
*•• thought fo handfome, t ho' you would not have thought
f.hfer io handfome neither, if you had feen her nearer;
'€'W^to be fare Ihg hath been carried before the iufticc

tgt The H I S T O R Y of a Book iVf

for being big with child. She feemcd to me to look like
a conlident ilut ; and to be furc fhe hath laid the child to
young Mr Jones And all the parifh fays Mr All worthy
is fo angry with young Mr Jones, that he won't lee
him. To be lure, one can*t help pitying the poor young
man, and yet he doth not deferve much pity neither, for
demeaning himfelf with fuch kind of trumpery Yet he
is fo pretty a gentleman, 1 (hould be forry to have him
turned out of doors. 1 dares to fwear the wench was as
willing as he ; for (lie was always a * forward kind of
body. And when wenches are fo coming, young men
are not fo much to be blamed neither, tor to be furc
they do no more than what is natural. Indited it is
beneath them to meddle with fuch dirty dragglt-tails ;
and whatever happens to them, it is good eiiough for
them. And yet to be fare the vile bac gages are moit io
f^ult. I wi(hes, with all my heart, they were well to be
whipped at the cart's tail ; for it is pity they (hould be
the ruin of a pretty young gentleman ; and no body caa
deny but that Mr Jones is one of the moft handfomcft
young men that eve r
She was running on thus, when Sophia, with a more
peevifh voice than (he had ever fpoken to her in before, cried,
Prithee, why doft thou trouble me with all this iiuSi
What concern have I in what Mr Jones doth ? I fuppofe
you are all alike 1 And you feem to me to be angry it
was not your own cafe.'

* I, Ma'am !' anfwered Mrs Honour, ' I am ibrry your
Ladyfhip (hould have fuch an opinion of me I a*ra furc
no body can fay any fuch thing ot me. All the young
fellows in the world may gojtg the devil for me. Be»-
caufti I faid he was a handfome man ! Every body fays

it as well as I. To be fure I never thought as it was

any harm to fay a young man was handfome ; but to be
fure I (liall never think hiiW fo any more now ;' fpr hand-
fome is that handfome docs. A beggar wench !

* Stop thy torrent of impertinence,' cries Sophia, * and
fee whether my father wants me at breakfaft.'

Mrs Honour then (lung out of the room muttering mudi

to herfelf, of which * Marry come up, 1 aflufC

you,' was all that could be plainly diilinguiihjtd.
Whether Mrs Honour really defervcd that iuijJcion^ df,

Oap, II, FOUNDLING. 155

which her miftrcfs gave her aiiint, is a matter which we
cannot indulge our reader^a curiofity by refolving. We
will, howeyer, make him amcada, in difcloiiag what paflcd
ia the mind of Sophia. .

The reader will be pleafed to rec3lle6l, that a fecret
aiFc6iion for Mr Jones had infeolibly llolen into the bofom
of this young lady. That it had there grown to a pretty
great height before (he herfelf had difcovered it. When
(he firft began to perceive its fymptoms, the fen Cations were
(o fweet and pleafing, that Aie had not refolution fuffici-
cot to theck or repel them ; and thus (he went on che-
riihing a paflion of which (he never once confidered the
confequences- '

This incident relating to Molly firft opened her eyes.
She now firft perceived the weaknefs of which (he had
been guilty ; and though it caufed the utmoft perturbation
in her mind, yet it had the effei^ of other naufeous phy-
fic, and for the time expelled her diilemper. Its opera-
tion indeed was moft wonderfully cfiiick ; aod in the Ihort
iaterval, while her maid, was abtent, fo entirely removed
all fymptoms, that when Mrs Honour returned with a
fummons from her father, (he was become perfedlly cafy,
and had brought herfelf to a thorough indifference for
Mr Jones.

The difeafes of the mind do in almoft every particular
imitate thofe of the body. For. which reafon, we hope,
that learned faculty, for whom we have fo profound a re-
fpedl, will pardon us the violent hands we have been ne-.
ceflhated to lay on feveral words and phrafes which of right
belong to them, and without which our defcriptions muft
have been often unintelligible.

Now there is no one circumftance in which the dillem-
pers of the mind bear a more exaft analogy to thofe whiclt
are called bodily, than that aptnefs which both have to a
relapfe. This is plain in the violent difeafes of ambition
and avarice. I have known ambition, when cured at
court by frequent difappointments, (which are the only
phyfic for it), to break out again in a conteft for fore-
men of ihe gi-and jury at an affizes ; and have lieard of
a man who had fo far coni[ujred avarice, as to give away
many. a fixpence, that comforted himfelf, at lalt, on his
4c»tb-bed, by: nicking a crafty and advantageous bargain

Voi.. I. p

g54. The HISTORY of a Book IV

concerning his enfmng funeral, within undertaker wha
had married his only child.

In the affair of lovty ei^hich, out of fla-i^ Gonformity
with the Stoic philofophy, We (hall' here treat as a«iifieafe^.
this pronenefs to relapfe is no lefs confpicuous. Thus it
happened to poor Sophia ; upon whom, the very next
thne fhe faw young Jones, all the former fymptoms re*
turned, and from that time cold and hot fits alternately
fcized her heart.

The fituation of thi« young lady wa3 now very diflfeiv
«nt from what it had ever been before. That paffioa
\chich had formerly been fo exqulfitely delicious, t)eca«ie-
now a fcorpion in her bofoiti. She refifled it therefore
^ith her utmoft force, and fummoned every argument her
rcafon (which was furprifmgly flrong for her age) could
fuggeft, to fubdue and expel it. In this ihe fo far fuc*
ceeded, that flie began to hope from . time an4 abfence a
perfe^l, cure. She refolved therefore to avoid Tom Jones
as much as polTible ; for \thich purpofe fhe began to can*
ceive a defign of vifiting her aunt, to which fhe made no
doubt of obtaining her father's confent.

But Fortune, who had other defigns in her head, put
ah immediate flop to any fuch proceeding, by introducing
jsin accident, which will be related in the next chapter*

CHAP. xni.

'^ dreadfid accident <whkh hefel Sophia. The gallant heha^

vhur of Jones i and the imre dreadful confeqiience of Hat^ i

hehaviouir to the youngs lady ; mith a Jhort digrejjion m i

favour of ihe female fex^ - ]

MR Weflern grew every day fo'nder and fonder of So-
phia, infomuch that his beloved dr.gs themfelvet'
slmofl gave place to her in his affections : but as he could
not prevail on himfelf to abandon thefe, he contrived very;
cuniiirgly to enjoy their company, together with that of hiir'
dau'^hter, by infilling- on bp* riding a hunting with him.

Scphia, to whom lier father's word was a law, readilar

complied with his defires, thoHjgh fhe had not the lew

<ie!icht In a fport v/hlch was of too rough and mafculiae

M rMtureto iuit witli her difpolitioa. JShe l\ad, h<w?*«r«ii^

CHa^i 13. FOUNDLING. 155

another motive^ befide het* ofbedience^ to accompany the
old gentleman in the chace ; for, by her prefenCe^ fhe hd«
ped in fbdie meaflire to reilrain his impetubfity, and to pre<*
Teat hJm froair fo freqpiently expofing his neck to the ut-
nMO&: hazard.

- The^ ftrtm^eft objedton was that which would have for-
merly been an . inducement to her, namely, the frequerit
feeetitt^ with young Jonea, whom (he had determined to
avoid : but as the end of the hunting feaCbrt now approach-
ed, : flie Inyped, by i ihort^abfence with her aunt, to reafoli
iher&lf entirely out of -her uirfoTttJmate paHion ; and had
-not any do6bt of hcirig able to meet him iil the ikld tbs
^fttbTequent Jeafon withont ^e leafl: danger*

Oii ^e fecdnd day of her hundirg, as (be was returii-
.kig from die chaccr and was arrived within a little diftance
thofxb Mr Wdftern's houfe* her horfe, whofe mettlefomfc
i^irit r(^qiiired a better rider^ fell fuddcnly to prancing^
and capering in fuch a manner, that (he was in the mofc
/tmhiinettt peril :olf fajlifagi; ' Tom Jones, who was at a
iittle di&aace behiud»' £iw this, ajid immediately gxilloped
iiqi to hef affiftance. As fbon ad he came up, he leapt froia
(kis own horie^ and caught hold of hcr'giby the bridle.
-•Tbc unruly bcaft jdrefeiitiy reared . himfelf an end on his
-hiad 1^3, andrtjifiew his lovely burden from his back, andl
Jonc? caught her in hift arms.

She was fb afTedtcd with the fright, that (he was not:
immediately able to fatisfy Jones, who^ was very folicr^
toud to know whether (he had received any hurt. She
fodn after^ hoivivcr, recovered her fpirits, afliired hink
Ac was^fafe, arid thanked him for the caire he had takea
of her. Jones anfwered, * If I; have prefervecl you, Ma-
^ dam, I am fuHiciently repaid ; for I promife you E

* would' have fecured you from the leafl: harm, at the ex-

* -pen^eof a niuch greater misfortune to myfelf than I hava

* fufici'c'S on this occafton/

i* What mis fprtune ?' replies Sophia eagerly; * I hope
-f fjdtthave come to nomifcbief?*

'^' Be not concerned. Madam,' anCwered Jones, * Hea*
4iikttbc\prai^cdy(m have elbapfed fo weH, conlidering the
f fe}4jmger you was in. if I have broke my arm, I confider
li^k^-SL trifle, in compafifon of what I feared upoa you?

If'M^amLLf.. , ■ > ^ . .^

-, ^c.

C .^ 1%e ^ .^rofcc your arm! Heaven

' '^^itii^^^!^ ctirii to take care, of y.ou^ 1 have a

' a !Ji* ^^^'^'^ ^at yo^^ fervice, to help you into the

'/ '\ht ^^^^ llace ^c have but a very little walk to

'4 ro»r*.^ LiQgh'ishh?iViXid73tiig]in^ by his fide, while
^^^^%DS ^^^^ Other to lead her, no longer doubted of
jjc y^^ V Sht.novf grew; much paler tHian her fears for
f^<^,|^"^^^ made her before., ! All her jHmbsr were feized
^^■u ^rc^ni^^^^^*^'^^*^™"^^ *^^^" J""^^ *^°^^ fcarce fup-
^^^ her: an'J ^^ ^^^ thoughts wef^ in no lefi agitation,
^^cotild not refrai^r from giving Jones a; look la full of
idernefs, that it alraofliargaicdaikongcrfenfation in her
mind, ilfan even gratitude and pity united can raife ia )
• the gentlc'ft female l^oi'om, without the afliflance of a thiiid
jDore powerful paiSon* .1 ji,

Mr Wefteriv who. was advanced at fome diflaace wbett
this accident happened, wa& now rjeturitcd, as were the,
jcil of the horiemen. Sophia . immediately arcfuainted
,thcm vs'ith what had befallen Jones, and begged ihera to
take care of him^ Upon which, Wellern, who had be^fc ,
much alarmed by meeting his daughter's horfe without
its rider, and was now overjoyed to find her unhurt, cri-
ed out, * T am gl^ad it is no worfc ; if Tom hath brokem
.< his arm, ' we >JJ^feiget a joiner to mend un again.' . .

Thejfijuire ali|;£[ted from his horfe', and pro ceeded to
liis hotife on foot,; r with his dangluxrand Jones. An- im*
partial fpedlator, who had met^them on the way, wouldv
on viewing their feveral countenances, have concluded
Sophia &lone to have been the objeA of compaffion : for
as to Jones, he exulted in. having probably faved the life
of the young lady, at the price only of- a broken bone ;
and Mr Weftern, though he was not unconcerned at the
accident which had befallen Jones, was, however, de-
lighted in a much higher degree v^ith the' fortunate efcape
of his daughter. ' ■ ' '-.'J -

The generofity of Sop]iia*s temper conllrued this be^

Jiaviour of Jones into great bravery ; and it made a diep

impreffion on her h^rt : for certain it is, that there is no

^c quality vrhiQh fo generally recom^iends men to :

Chaf>. T4. TO UN D L 1 NO. 't^*f

.Ittei^ as thiiS'; proceediiie:, if we believe the common opi*
fiion, from thit natural timidity of the fex ; which is, faya
Mr Ofborne, * fo great, that a woman is the moft ^ow-
< ardly of all the creatures God ever made.' A fent invents
more rcmarkaWe for its bluntnefs than for it» truth*
Ariftotfe, in his politics,- doth them, I believe, more
jaMcQf when he fays, * The mode fty and fortitude of mem

* differ from thofe virtues- in women ; for the fortitude

* which becomes a woman, would* be cowardice in a man j

* and the modeftj winch .becomes a^ man, would be pertnef*
.♦ in a womany Nor is there, perliaps, more of truth in the
•pinion of thofe "who derieve the partlah'ty which worner^
are inclined to (hew to tlie br^ve, from this excefs of their
fear. Mr Bayfe ( I think,- inr his. larticle of Helen ) imputes
this, and with greater probabilityr to their violent love of

flory ; for the truth of whichk we have the authority of
im, who, of allotherSf few fartheft into human nature;
and who iiUroduces the heroine of his Odyfley, the great
pattern of matrimonial Jove and conftancy,T affigning the
glory of her hAifband as the-onty fource of her affeftion to-
Wclrds him *,. .

However this be, certain k is that the accident- ope-^
fated very ftrongly on Sophia; and, indeed, after much?
iiquir)! into the matter, I am inclined to btlleve, that at
this very time the charming Sophia- made no lefs Impref-
iion oh the heairt of Jones : to fay truthj^had for fbmc
lame become fenfible of the irTefiiiible i^^^^Hll^ charnas*-

C H A. P.

TTie arrival of a furgeon. His operation^

logiie bet^ween Sophia and h&r ??iaii

W^EH they arrived in Mr Weftern's hall, SoJ
who had tottered along with much diiHculty, fu'r!
down in a, chair; but, bf- the aflii\\ace of hart/horn and-
water, (he was prevented froin^ fainting away, and had-
pretty well recovered her fpirltsj when- the furgeon,. who"
was fent for to Jo^nes, appeared. Mr Wetlern, who
imputed thefe fymptoms in h1i*xlaughter to her fell,, ad-*

'' ** The Ebglifh reader will n6t ^\vix\\\?. \\\ \\\^:^'^^'^>.'^"cs6:
, ^katimcnt k entirely left out lu xJatUecj^XAaxw

5 llJ^dJ^. ''r ,' '

,t5« The HISTORY 'of a Book Tf.

vifcd her to be prefcntly Hooded by way of pretentioft* '
In this opinion he was feconded by the furgeoo, who gate
{o many reafoHs for bleeding, and quoted fo nwray caf€»
where perfons had mifcarricd for want of it, tliat the
fquire became very importunate, and infifted pcremptori^
that his daughter ihould be blooded.

Sophia foon yielded to the commands of her father^
though entirely contrary to her own inclinations : for (he
iufped^ed, I believe, lefs danger from the fright, thah
cither the fquire or the furgeon. She then ft retched Out
her beautiful arm, and the operator began to prepat^e ic^
his work. ,

While the fervants were bufied in providing materialsV
the furgon, who imputed- the backwardnefs which had
appeared in Sophia to her fears, began to comfort heir
with affurances that there was not the lead danger ;' for ii6
accident, he faid, could ever happen in bleedings btit fronk
tlie monftrous ignorance of pretenders to fufgery, whiclk
he pretty plainly infiniiated was n^t at prefent to be appre*
hended. Sophia declared ^he was not wnder the- leaft ap-
prehenfion ; adding, * if you open an artery, i promiflj
* you Pll forgive you.' * Will yoo P cries Weftern^
•* D — n me, If I will ; if he does thee the leaft ^ifchief^
< d — n me, if I don't ha' llie heart's blood o^ie<)ut/
The furgeou aflented to bleed* her upon thefe con^^icmsv
sind then pmc^^l to his operation, which he per]rarnie<i
with as Jj^^^^^Mity as he had promifcd ; and with a^
he took but little blood from her,
Ffafer to bleed again and again, thaft
uch at once. ^

[ibjlprm was bound up, retired : for fhe
(nor was it, perhaps, ftrldly decent) to
fefeiat at the operation on Jones^ Indeed one ob-
„jn which ihe had to bleeding ^though (he did not make
^^yv^as the delay which it woul4i»5^afiofl to fetting the
ken bone. For Weftern, whetr" Sophia was concerned,
no confideration but for lijr ; and as for Jones "him-
Hf, he * fat like patience o||^monument fmiling at grief.*
t'Po fay the trirth, when WWaw the blood fprmgi-ng frojn'
^.the lovely arm of Sophia, he fcarce thought of what had
"bsppcned to lilmfelf.

The fuj£^con now ordered his patient to be ilriptita

thafu f4. FOUNDLING. if^

Jii8 (hirt, and tlwn entirely baring the arm, he began to
ftretch and examtne it, m Tuch a manner, that the tor-
tures he put him to, caufcd Jones to make fevera? wry
faces ; which the furgeon obfervi'ng^. greatly wondered'
trt, crying, * What is the matter. Sir ? I am fure ft is fm-

* poflible I (hould hurt you/ And then holding forth
the broken arm, he began a long and very learned lec-
ture of anatomy, in which limpTe and doable fra<^uret
were'moft accurately confidered ; and the fereral ways
4n which Jones might have broken Ms arm were difcuffed, .
with proper annotations, fhewing how many of thefe
would have been better, and horw numy \vor(e than the
prefent cafe.

Having at length finiflied his laboured harangue,, inxii
which the andience, though it had greatly raifed their
attention and admiration, were not miich edified, as they
teally underftood not a fingle f}'11able of all he had faia,
he proceeded to bufinefs; which he was more expeditious .
in finifhing than he had been in beginning. '

* Jones was then ordered into a bed, which Mr Weflerii
trompelled him to accept at his own houfe,^and fentencc of ^
water- gruel was pafled upon him.

Among the good company which had attended in flie
hall during the bone-fetting, Mrs Honour was one : who
being fummoned tx> her miftrefs as foon as it was over,
ind a/ked by her how the young gentleniftn did, prefently,
launched into extravagant praifes on die magnanimity, as
ftc called it, of his behav'our ; whichfc^e- faid*, * was fo

* charming in fo pretty a creatuJc.* one tlfeiiburft forth
iiito much warmer encomiums on the beatfty.of his per-
fon ; enumerctting many particulars, and endrng with the
whitenefs of his fkin.

This difcourfe had an effe^l on Spphi^i's countenance,-
which wouhi not perhaps have efcaped the obfervance of
the fagacious .waiting- woman, had (he ojice looked her
mifCrefs in the face all the time fhe was fpeaking : but aa*
a loofcing-i^lafs, which was mofl 'commodioufly placed
oppofite to her, gave, her an opportunity of furveyinr/*
thiit features, in which, of all others, fhe took moll de-
liglit J fo (he'hndnot once removed her eyes from that
ainhible objedl during her whole fpeech.

V Mtt Honour was fo entirely -wra^^td. >^^ \^vv. >^<^ ^\i^^

vWo The H I S T O R Y of a Book m'

jeA on which fhe exercifed her tongue, andtheobjeft he*
ibre her eyes, that fhe^ gave her iniftrtfs time to conquer
her -contulion ; which having done, fhe fmiled on her
, maid, and told her, She was certainly in love v^ith this
.young fellow, * I in love. Madam I* anfwers (he; * up-

* on my word. Ma'am, I afRire you. Ma'am, upon my foal,
.* Ma'am, I am not.' * Why, if you was,' cries her mi-
ftrefs, • I fee no reafon that you (hould be afhamcd of it j

* for he is certainly a pretty fellow ' — * Yes,. Ma'am,' an-
fwered the other,. * that he ia the moft handfomefl: man I

* ever faw in my life Yes, to be furp, that he is, and,

* as your Ladyfliip fays, I don't know why I fhould be

* afhamcd of loving him, though he is my betters. Ta

* be fure, gentle folks are hut flefh and blood,, no more
.*■ than us fcrvants. Befides, as for Mr Jones, thof Squire

* All worthy hath made a getnleman of him, he was not fa

* good as myfelf by birth : for tliof I am a poor body, I
.* am an honeH perfon's child, and my father and mother

* were married, which is more than fome people can fayi
f as high as tliey hold their heads. Mari'y, come up ! I

* affure you, my dirty coufin ; thof his fkin be fo white,^
< and, to be fure, it is the mo(i whitefjb that ever was feeB„

* I am a Chriflian as well as- he, and no body can fay that

* I am bafe born ; my grandfather was a clergyman ^,<

* and would have been very angry, L believe, to have

* thought any of his family' fhould have taken up with.

* Molly Seagriip^s dirty leavings.'

Perhaps Sophia jrnight have fuffered her maid to rua
on in this manner^ irom? wanting fufficient fpirits to ftop-
her tongue, which the reader may probably conJe6lure-
was no very eafy tai]< :. for certainly there were fome-
paflages in her fpeech which were fai- from being agree-
able to the liidy. Hiow.ever, fne now checked the tor--
rent, as there feemed no end of Its flowing. *^ I wondet,*
fays flie, * at your afTurance in dai-Ing to talk thus of one-

* of my father's friends. As to the wench, 1 order you-
. * never to mention her name to me* And, with regard-

* This is the fecond perfon of lowcond'tlon whom we have ,
recorded In thl.^ til^ory to have fpriing from the clergy. It is
/■ob-^ hoped fuch Inilanccs will ^ In future agc's, when fome pro-
vtlion is mad/for the famlUe^s of tKcinfcvior clergy^ agj/cait
granger thfiR they caa be tlaougVit :\t. ^xkviX..

W^'f^^iW

Chap. {\. F U ^r D L I N G. i6i

^ to the young gentleman's birth, thofe who can fay no-
*. thing more to his difadvantage, may as well be filent on

* that head, as I defire yoa will be for the fotr.rc.'

* I am forfy I have oiFended your Ladyfhip,' anfwer-
ed Mrs Honour; * I ani^ fare I hate Molly Seagrim a$

* much a» ydur Ladyfhip can ; and as- for ^buflng Squire
< Jones, I can call all the fervants in the hoafe to witnefs,

* that whenever any talk hath been about baftards, I have

* always taken his part : for which of you,' fays I to the
footman, < would not be a baftard if he could, to be made

* a gentleman of? and,' fays I, * I am fure he is a very
:* BitiQ gentleman ; and he hath one of the whitcft hands in

« the world : for, to be fure, fo he hath ; aad,' fays I,

* one of the fweeteft teniperedeff, beft naturedeft men in
^ the world he is j* and fays I, * all the fervants and neigh-

* hours all around the country loves him. And, to be
^'fure, I coTild teltyour Ladyfhip fomething,. but that I

* am afraid it would offend you.'- — * What could you tell
** me, Honour?* fays Sophia. *Nay Ma'am, -to befui^
*. h« meant i^othing ijy it, therefore I wquW not have your
^ Ladyfhip be offended** — * Prithee, tell me,* fays Sophia*
v-^< 1 will know it this inflant.' * Why Ma'm,'. anfwered
Mrs Honour, * he came into the room, one day laft week

* when I was at work, and there lay your Ladylhip's mirfF

* on a chair ; and, to be fure, he put his hands into it^

* that very raufF your Ladyfhip gave me but yefterday :

* La,* fays I, * Mr Jones, you will ftrctch my Lady*8

* muff, and fpoilit ; but he ftill kept his hands iu it, and

* then he kiffed it, — to be fure, I hardly ever faw fuch a
9 kifs in my life as he gave it * — * I fuppofe h<? did not
> know it was mine,' replied Sophia. * Your Ladyfhip

* (hall hear. Ma'am. He kiffed ^t again and again, and

* faid it was the prettiefl muff in the world.' * La ! Sir,*
i^ys I, * you have feen it a hundred tirfies.*--^* Yes,.Mr«
' Honour,' cried he ; * but who can fee any thing beauti-
*.ful in the prefence of your Lady but herfelf : nay, that V
•not all neither, but I hope your Ladyfhip won't be pfFend-

* ed, for to be fure, he meant nothing. One day as your
•-Ladyfhip was playing on the harpfichord to. my mafter,

* iMr Jones was fitting in the next room, and me thought
f. ke looked melancholy* Lsc I' fays I, < Mr JoncS| what*)!

Kbis^^ii^^ '

» A-.«r,v for VoOr thoiightSy* fay». I* * '
. tlte'«f"er/ a />en^^^^^^^ from a dream, ' what .

; tc thinking of. yhcn that angel your miftrefs m .]
« /nff^' 2"^ ^^'*^" r«]neczjriff. me by the hand^* Oh,
^ jf^nour,' /ays he* ' how happy will that man be !'
frfji he /ighed, * upon my troth his breath is as fw<
i a nofegay^ — —but, to bcfut-e, he mfcant no harm 1
c So- 1 hope your Ladyfhip will not mention a word

* he gave me a crown never to mention it, and mac
I fweaf upoh'a book; but, I believe, indeed, it was ro

* Bihh.' ^: ; ... . ,

, Till fotncthing of a more beautiful red than vermili

found out, I (hall fay nothing of Sophia's colour oi

pccdfion. * Ho-^-jaour,* fays fhe#: * I- — if yoti wil

« mention this any more to me,— nnor to any bbdy e

« \j7ill hot betray you,^*,-! mean I wiil 'not be angry

« I ^m afraid; of yodir tongue. • Why> my girl, wil

« give -it fuch liberties ?' * Nay* Ma'arhj* anfwei*ed (he

f be lure, I ip^ould foontr cut out my 'tot^^C;tha6 f

•^ your Lady fhip^-^to be fure>I fliaUncver'mc!ati©n:a

.♦that your L#ady{bip ,\VoifM not' hav€ me/-*-r* Wl

• * would riot haVt you ntention this any morej' faid Sd]

* for it may come to my .father's cajd^ and h« wot

* angry with Mr JomsB, though I ieally bekcvd, a
< fay, he meant nothing. I i^ould be very arigi^y n

* if I imagined'— * >fay, Ma'am,' fays Honour, < I

* teft, I believe he meant nothingi T thought he t

* as if he was out of his fcnfc^l ; nay, he faid he be]

* ht was befide himfelf. when he l^ ;^oken the «
« Ayjf Sir,' fays I, •* I believe fo t6o*' / Yea/, fa)

* Honour,'-—* but I alk ybut* Ladyfhip's pardon; I
' tear my tongue' out for offending you.'' * Go oU,'
Sophia, * yoU may mention any thing youliave not

* me before.*. * Yes,. Honour,' fays he,, (this w%is i
time afterwards, when he gave me the cfown, < I an

* ther fiich a coxcomb, or-fuch a viUian, as ta think c

* in any other delight, but as my goddefs j as fuch '.
-* always worfliip and adore her while: I have brcaili;

* was all, Ma'am, I vrill be fwiirn, to the bell of m

* membrance ; I waS/ in a paffion with myfelf, till I J
c* he meant no harm.' * Indeed, Honolir,' faya Sa

* 1 believe you have a real affediion for me j I waa pn

ttap. 14. FOUNDLING. 163

* cd the other day, when I gave ypu warning ; but if you

* have a defire to ftay with me, you fhalL' * To be fure,

* Ma'am/ anfwcred Mrs Honour, * I fhall never defirc to

* part vfith yoiii* Ladyfliip. To be Aire, i almoit cried

* my eyes out when you gave me warning. It would be
< very ungrateful in me to defite to leave your Lady (hip ;

* becaufe, as why, I (hould never get fo good a place a-

* gaia. I am fure I would live and die wifth your Ladyr
^ mip— for, as poor Mr Jones faid, Happy is the man'— -^

Here the dinner bell interrupted a converfation which
bad wrought fuch an eife^t 9n Sophia, that fhe was, per-
haps, more obliged to her bleeding in the morning, than
le, at the time, had apprehended (he (hould be. As to
inc prefent lltuation of her niind, I (hall adhere to a rul§
«or^ Horace, by not attemptihg to defcribe'it", fi^"ra defpair
of fttccefs. Molt of my r^eadcrs will fu ggeft it eafily to
themfelves ; and the few who cannot, would not under-
ftand the pifture, or, at l^ft,"yvQiilcldeny it to be natural,
if €ver fo well drawn. ,

• f ' -■ ' '

ii^^ikM^.:^

THE •

Hi s T o R y

■'■•-,.-■ -OF A

F p U N D L I N <

B O OK V.

Containing a portion of time, fomewhat lor
than half a year.

' C H A R I.

Of 7 HE Serious /;/ ivriiingy and for ivhat purpofe
introduced^

PEradventure there may be no parts in tliis proc
ous work which will give the reader lefs pleafu:
the periifin^r, than thofe which have given the authoi
greateft pains in compofing. Among thefe probably^
be reckoned thofe initial efTays which we have prefixc
the hiftorical matter contained in every book ; and w
we have determined to be eflentially neceflary to this I
of writing, of which we have fet ourfelves at the head,
For this our determination we do not hold ourf
(Iriftly bbund to aflign any reafon ; it being abundc
fufficient that we have hiid it down as a rule neceflar
be obferved in all profai-comi-epic writing. Who
demanded th"e reafons of that nice unity of time or j
which 18 now cflabliflied to be fo ef^ential to dran
potty ? What critic hath been ever afl^ed, why a
may not contain two days as Ts^ell as one ? or why
audience (provided they travel, like elcdlors, withoij
ny expence) may not be wafted fifty miles as we
ii^t ? Hath any com.mentator well accounted for tb
gnitatioa wich an ancient critic hath fet to ttte dp

Chap. I, FOUNDLING. 165

which he will have contain neither more nor Icfs than five
ads ? Or hath any one living attempted to explain, ,w4iat
the modern judges of our theatres mean by that word
Low ; by which they have happily fucceeded in bariifhing
all humour from the ftage, and have made the theatre as
dull as a drawing-room ? Upon all thefe ocqafions, the
world feems to have embraced a maxim of our law, viz*
Cuicunque in arte fua perito credendum eft : for it feemsy
perhaps, difficult to conceive that any one fhould have had
enough of impudence to lay down dogmatical rules in any
art or'fcience without the leaft foundation. In fuch cafes>
therefore, we are apt to conclude, there are found and
good reafons at the bottom, though we are unfortunately
not able to fee fo-far.

- Now, in reality, the world have paid too great a com-
pliment to critics, and have imagined them men of much
greater profundity than they really are. From this com-
plaifance, the critics have been emboldened to alFume a
dictatorial power, and have fo far fucceeded, that they
are now become the mafiers, and have the afTurance to give
laws to thofe authors, from whofe predeceffors they origi-
nally received them.

The critic, rightly confidered, is no more than the
clerk, whofe office it is to tranfcribe the rules and laws .
laid down by thofe great judges, whofe vaft ftrength of
genius'* hath placed tliem in the light of legiflators, in the
feveral fciences over which they prefided. This «f&ce
was all which the critics of old afpired to, nor did they
ever dare to advance a fentence, without fupporting it by
the authority of the judge from whence ^t was borrowed.
But in procefs of time, and in ages of ignoi^ance, the
derk began to invade the power, and aflame the dignity
of his mafter. The laws of writing were no longer found-
ed on the pradlice of the authd^ hut on the dictates of
the critic. The clerk I^eeangte;.>Jke leglflator, and thofe
very peremptorily gave laws, •OMffi^'i^uIiaefs it was at frft>
©lily to tranfcribe them. n :.%;;-;'

. Hence arofe an obvious, and, fjei^ps, an unavoidable
etror ; for thefe critics, being men of iliallow capacities,
'vpTf eafily miftook mere form for fubftance. They adted
judge would, who fhould adhere to the llfelefs letter
jw, and rejeft the fpiriu Little circutalia.ct^'j '»*i\^v';Jok

166 The HISTORY ofa Book V.

were, perhaps, accidental in a great author, were, by
thefe critics, confidcred to conllitute his .chief merit, and
tianfmitted as effentials to be obfervcd by all his fucceff-
ors. To thefe incroachmcnts, time and ignorance, the
two great fupporters of impoflure, gave authority ; and
thus, many rules for good writing have been eilablifhed',
which have not the lea ft foundation in truth or nature ;
and which commonly ferve for no other purpofe than to
curb and reftrain genius, ^ in the fame inanner aS it would
have reftrained the dancing-mailer, had the many excel-
]ent treatifes on that art laid it down as an efftntial rule,
that every man muft dance in chains. ^

To avoid, therefore, all imputation of laying down a
rule for pofterity, founded' only on the authority oi ipfe
dixit ; for which, to fay the {ruth, we have not the pro-
foundeft veneration, we fhall here wave the privilege a-
bove contended for, and proceed to lay before the reader
the reafons which have induced us to interfperfe thciie fe-
,veral digreflive eflays, in the courfe of this work.

And here we fhall of necefllty be led to open a new
^ein of knowledge, which, if it hath been dilcovcred, hath
not, to our remembitance, been wrought on by any an*
cient or modern writer. This vein is no other than that of
frontraft, which runs through all the works of the crea-
tion, and may probably have a large (hare in conftltuting
in urthe idea of all beauty, as well natural as artificial ;
for what demonflratcs the beauty and excellence of any
thing, but its reverfe ? Thus the beauty of day, and that
cf lummer. Is fct ofF by the horrors of night and winter.
And, I believe, if it was poflible for a man to have feea
only the two former, he would have a very imperfe£l idea
joi their beauty.

But to avoid too fericus an air : can ft be doubted but
that the hnell woman in the world would lofe all benefit
of her charms, in- the eye of a man wlio had never feea
or.? of another xaft ? The ladies themftlves feem fo fenii-
ble of this, that they are all induftrious to procure foils 5
nay, they will become foils to tliemfclves : for 1 have ob-
ferved (at Bath particularly) that they endeavour to ap-
pear as ugly as pcfTible in the morning, in order to ftt off
that beauty which they intend to fljew you in tlie evening.
^3f(yii artiftsliaye this fecrct in jpradiicfc, tliough ii&me,

Chap, u FOUNDLING^ • 167

perhaps, have not niuch ftudied the theory. The jewel-
lef knows that the lintd briillant requires a foil ; and the
painter, by the contrail of his figures, often acquires great
applaufe.

A great genius among us will illuftrate this matter fuHy,
I cannot, indeed, range him under any general head of
common artiils, as he hath a title to be placed among thofe

Inventas qui vltam excoluere per artes,
, • Who by invented arts have life improv'd.*

I mean here the inventor of that mod exquifite enter-*
Cainment, called the Engljfh Pantomime.

This entertainment confifted of two parts, which the
itiventor diftingaifhed by the names of the Serious and
the Comic. The ferious exhibited a certain number of
Heathen gods and heroes, who were certainly the wor^
and dullell company into which an audience was ever in-
troduced ; and, (which was a fecret known to few), wert
adually intended fo to be, in order to contrail the comic
jpart of the entertainment, and to difplay the tricks of
Harlequin to the better ajvantage.

This was, perhaps, na very civil ufe of fuch perfonas
ges ; but the contrivance was, neverthelefs, ingenious e-
Bough, and had its effedl. And this will now plainly ap-
pear, if, inftead of ferious and comic, vrt fupply the words'
duller and dullell ; for the comic was certainly duller ,thaa
dny thing' before (hewn on the llage, and could be fet off
enly by that fuperlative degree of dulnefs which compofed
the ferious. So intolerably furious, indeed, were thefc
gods and^ heroes, that Harlequin (though the Englifh
gentleman of that name is not at all related to the Frencft
ramily, for*he is of a much more ferious difpofition), wa*
always welcome on the ftage, as he relieved the audience
from worfe company.

Judicious writers have always pradlifed this art of con-
trail with great fuccefs. I have been furprifed th^t Ho»
race fhould cavil at this art in Homer ; but indeed h«
contradicls himfelf in the very next line.

Jndignor quandoque bonus dormltat Homtrus^
Verum opere in hngofas eft obrepere [omnurm:-

j68 The H I S T O R Y of « ^Book V.

* I grieve if e'er great Homer chance to fleep^

* Yet flumbers on long works have right to creep.*

For we are not here to underftand, as, perhaps, feme
liave, that an author a£lually falls afleep while he is writing.
It is true that readers are too apt to be fo overtaken;
but if the work was as long as anyofOldmixon, the author
Jiimfelf is too well entertained to be fubjedl to the kail
drowiinefs. He is, as Mr Pope obferves,

Sleeplefs himfelf, to give his readers Jleep*

To fay the truth, thefe foporific parts ate fo many fceiws
of ferious artfully interwoven, in order to contrail and fet
off the reft ; and this is the true meaning of a late facetious
writer, who told the public. That when ever he was duH>
they might be afliired there was a defign in it.

In this light then, or rather in this darknefs, I wouM
have the reader to confider thefe initial effa^^^s. And aftar
this warning, if he fhall be of opinion, that he can fin^
enough of ferious in other parts of this hiftory, he may pafe
over thefe, in which we profefs to be laborioufly dull, ao^
begin the following books at the fecond chapter.

CHAP. II.

In nxihich Mr Jones receives many' friendly vifits during Us
confinement ; 'with fome fine touches of the paffion of Icvs^
fcarce vifihle to the naked eye^

T-rs OM Jones had many vifitors during his confinement,
I though fome, perhaps, were not very agreeable to
him. Mr Allworthy faw him almo]^ every day : but
though he pitied Tom's fufFerings, iftid greatly approved
the gallant behaviour which had occafioned them ; yet
he thought this was a favourable opportunity to bring
him to a fober fenfe of .his indifcreet conduft ; and^th^t
•wholefome advice for that purpofe could never be appli*
ed at a more proper feafon than at the prefent ; whea the
mind was foftened by pain and licknefs, and alarmed by
danger; and when its atteutiou was unimbariTiflfed wit|^

€hap. 7,. t O U N D L I N G. 169^

thofe^ turbulent paflions which engage us in the purfuit of
pleafure.

At all feafons, therefore, when the good man was a-
lone with- the youth, efpecially when the latter was to-
tally at eafe,' he took occafion to remind' him of his for-
mer mifcarriages, but in the mil deft and tendered manner,-
dnd only in order to introduce the caution which he pre-
fcribed for his fiiture behaviour; on which alone, he af--
fur ed him, would depend his owh felicity, and the kind*
nefs which he might yet promife himfelf to receive at the
hands of his father by adoption, unlefs he fhould hereaf-
ter forfeit his good opinion 5 for ^s to what had paft, he
faid, it fhould be all forgiven and forgotten. . H^ there-
fore advifed him to make a good ufe of this accident,
that fo in the end it might pr'ove a vifitatiort for his own-
good.

Thwackum was likewife pretty afliduous ^n his vi/its ;
a'nd he too cOnlidered a fick-bed to be a convenient fc^ne
for lectures. His ftyle, however, was niore fevere thaa
Mr AiUyorthy's : Ik told his pupil. That he ought ta
leok on his broken limb as a judgment from Heaven on hi's
fms ; that it would become him to be daily on his knees, ^
pouring forth. thankfgivings that he had broken his arni
only, and not his neck; which latter, he faid, was very
probably relerved for fome future occafion, and that, per-i
haps, not vei'y remote. « For his part, he faid lie had often
wondered fome judgment had not overtaken him before ;
hut it might be perceived by this, that divine punifhments,
though How, are always fuiC. 'Hence likewife he advifed
him to forfee, w«th equal certainty, the greater evils that
were yet behind, and which were as fure as this^ of over-
taking him in his ftite of reprobacy." « Thefe are,' faid
.he, * to be averted only by fiich a thorough and fincere re-
*'pentance, as is not to be expecl;idor hop -^d for from one

* fo abandoned in bis youth, and whofe mlad, I am afaid,

* is totally corriiptel. It is my duty, however, to exhort

* you to this repentance, though I too wdl kftow all exhor-

. ♦'tations will be vain and fruit! efs. 'B-dt //berav/ ammai7&'''

,* nu\%mn I can accufe my own coiircience of no ncg]e(:il ; -

I'thougli it is, at the fame time, with the utmoil concenii

170 The H I S T O R Y of a Book Vi

• I fee you travelling on to certain mifery in this worlds

* and to as certain damnation in the next.'

Sguare talked in a very different ftrain ; he faid, Such
accidents as a broken bone wefe below the conGderation
of a wife man. That it was abundantly fufficient to re-
concile the mind to any of thefe mifchances, to reflect
that they are liable to befal the wifeft of mankind, and
arc undoubtedly for the good of the whole. He faid, it
was a mere abufe of words, to call thofe things evils, in
which there was no" moral unfitnefs : that pain, which
was the worft confequence of fuch accidents, was the moft
contemptible thing in the world : with more of the like
fentences, ex traced out of the fecond book of Tully's
Tufculan Qu^eftions, and from the great Lord Shaftef-
bury. In pronouncing thefe, he was one day fo eager,
that he.unfortunately bit his tongue ; and in fuch a man^
ncr, that it not only put an end to his difcourfe, but
created much emotion in him, and caufed him to mutter
an oath or two : but, what was worft of all, this accident
gave Thwackum, who was prefent, and who held all fiich
dodriae to be Heathenifh and Atheiftical, an opportunity
tp clap a judgment on his back. Now, this was done with
fo malicious a fncer, that it totally unhinged (if I may fo
fay) the temper of the philofopher, which the bite of his
tongue had fomewhat ruffled ; and as he was difabled from
Tenting his wrath at his lips, he had pofRbly found a more
-violent method of revenging himfelf, had not the furgeon,
who was then luckily in ^the room, contrary to his own
intereft, interposed, and preferved the peace.

Mr Blifil vifited his friend Jones but feldom, ^nd never
alone. This worthy young man, however, profeffed much
regard for him, and as great concern at his mibfortune ;
but cautioufly avoided any intimacy, left, as he freqiient-
]y hinted, it might contaminate the, fobrieljy of his own
charadlcr: for which purpoic, he^^ad conftantly in his
mouth that proverb in which k&rlomonfpeaksagainft evil
communication: not that he w^s fo ^titter as Thwackum;
for he always exprcffed^^e ho'pies of Tom's reforma-
tion ; which, he fa+d, ffll^'iBn^^^alkried goodnefs ot his
uncle on this oQcafioni -mi^ti^Certainly effed in one not
abfolutcly abaadp^w^cTf • tutaSnclude < If Mr Jones ever

Chap. t. F O U N D L I N a , 171

« offends kere^ter, I ihall not be able to fay a fyllablc in
* his favour.*

As to Squire Weftern, he was feldom out of the fifck-
room, unlefs when he was engaged either in the field, or
over his bottle. Nay, he would fometimea retire hither
to take his beer, and it was not without difficulty that
he was prevented from forcing Jones to take his beer too :
for no quack ever held his noftrum to be a more general
panacea than he did this ; which, he faid, had more ver-
tues in it than was in. all the phyfic in an apothecary's
{hop. He was, however, by much intreaty, prevailed 6n
to forbear the application of this medicine ; but frohi
Serenading his patient every hunting morning with the
horn under his window, it was impoffible to with-hold
him ; nor did Ive ever lay afide that halloo, with which he
entered into all companies, when he vifited Jones, without
any regard to the fick perfon's being at that time either
awake or afleep. . t;^*^

This boifterous behaviour, as it meant no harm, fohap-^
pUy it efFe6led none, and was abundantly compenfated to
Jojaes> as foon as he was able to fit up, by the company
of Sophia, whom the fquire then brought to vifit hini ;
nor was it indeed, long before Jgnes was able to attend
her to the harpfichord, where (he would kindly condql'eend,
for hours together, to charm him with moil delicious mu-
fic, unlefs when the fquire thought proper to interrupt
her, by infifling on Old Sir Simon, or fome other of his
' favourite pieces. ^

Notwithftpnding the niceft guard which Sophia endea-
voured to fct on her behaviour, (lie could not avoi^let-
^-ting fome appearances now and then flip forth : for love
may again be likened to a difeafe in this, that when it it)
denied a vent in ^ one part, it will certainly break out in
' another. What her lips therefore concealed, her eyes,
' her blufhes, and many little involuntary adlions, be*
trayed. '

One day when Sophia was playing on the harpfichord,
ami Jones was attending, the fquire came into the roam,
crying, * There, Tom, I have had a battle for thee be-

* low ilairs with thick parfon Thwackum. — He hath been

* a telling All worthy, before my face, that the brokea '

»7* The H I S T O R Y ofa Book 1>f;

* bone was a judgment upon thee. D — n it, fays I, how

* can that be ? Did not he come by it in the defence of
« a young woman ? a judgment indeed ! pox, if he never

* doth any thing worfe, he will go to heaven fooner thaa

* all the parfons ^ in the country. He hath more reafon

* to glory in it, than to be afham^d of it*' * Indeed,' fays
Jones, • I have no reafon for either ; but if it preferved

* Mifs Weftern, I (hall always think it the happieft acci-

* dent^of my life.'— * Atid to gu,' faid the fquire, * to zet

* All worthy againll thee vorit— D — n 'un, if theparfoo

* har unt had his petticuoats on, I fhould ha lent un-a

* flick ; for I love thee dearly my boy, and d— -n me if

* there is any thing in my power which I won't do for

* thee. Sha't take thy choice of all the horfes in my

* ftable to-morrow morning, except only the Chevalier

* and Mifs Slouch.* Jones thanked him, but declined ac-
cepting the oiFen * Nay/ added the fquire, * fhat ha

* the forrcl mare that Sophy rode. She coft me fifty

* guineas, and comes fix years old this grafs.' * If fhe

* had coft me a thoufand,* cries Jones paflionately, - * I

* would have given her to the dogs.' * Pooh! pooh !'
anfwered Weftern, . * what, becaufe flie broke thy arm.

/ Shouldft forget and forgive. I thought had ft been more

* a man than to bear malice agaiuft a dumb creature.^—
Here Sophia interpofed, and put an end to the converfa-
tion, by dtfiring her father's leave to play to him ;. a re- -
queft whicJh he never refufed.

The countenance of Sophia had undergone more than-*
one change during the foregoing fpetches ; and probably
fhe imputed the paffionate refentment which Jones had
expreffed againft the mare, to a different mmive from
that from which her father had derived it. Her fpirits
■w^re at this time in a vifible flutter; and fhe played fo
intolerably ill, that had not Weftern foon fallen afleep,
he muft have remarked it. Jones, however, who was
fufficiently awake, and was not without an ear, jyiy more
than without eyes, made fomc obfervatioiis, which being
joined to all which the reader may reniciiiber to haye
paflcd formerly, gave him pretty ftrong afruiances^ when
he. came to refle(^.t on the whole, that all was not v^ ell in
the tender, bofom of Sophia. An opinion whicli maay
jroung gentlemen miilf I doubt not, extremely woudtr ^i-

Chap. 3. FOUNDLING. 1 73 V-

his not having been well confirmed in long ago. To
confefs the truth, he had rather too much difEdence in
himfelf, and was not forward enough in feeing the ad-
vances of a young lady ; a misfortune which can be cured
only by that early town -education which is at prefent fo
generally in falhion.

When thefe thoughts had fully taken pofleflion of
Jones, they occalioned a perturbation in his mind, which,
in a conftitution lefs pure and firm than his, might have
been, at fuch a feafon, attended with very dangerous
tjonfcquences. He was truly fenfible of the great worth
of Sophia. He extremely liked her perfon, no lefs ad-
mired her accomplifhments, and tenderly loved her good-
Tiefs. In reality, as he had never once entertained any
thought of poffeflihg her, nor had ever given the leaft
•voluntary indulgence to his inclinations, he had a much
ftronger paflion for her than he himfelf was acquainted
^th. His heart now brought forth the full fecret, at
the fame time that it affured him the adorable object rt^
turned his afFeftion.

CHAP. IIL

ff^/fic^ all ivSo kave no hearty nvi/I think to contain much ado
about nothing*

TH E reader will perhaps imagine the fenfations
which now arofe in Jones to have been fo fweejtef:
and delicious, that they would rarjier tend to produce-^*"
chearful f^renity in the mind, than any of thofe dangei*-
ous effed^s which we have mentioned ; but, in fa6l, fen-
fations of this kind, however delicious, are, at their fifft
recognition, of a very tumultuous nature, and have very
little of the opiate in them. They were, moreover, in
the prefen;: cafe, embittered with certain circumftances,
which being mixed with fweeter ingredients, tended alto-
gether to compofe a draught that might be termed bittet-
Iwect ; than which, ?$ nothing can be more -difagreeable
to the palate. To nothing, in the metaphorical fenfe, can
be fo injurious to the mind.

For ftrft, though he had fufficient foundation to flatter
^^^tmldf in what he had obfervcd it\ So^bia.^ Vx*^^-^^ \>r8w

174 The H I S T O R r of a Book V.

yet free from doubt of mifcoqftFuing eompafiion, or, at
beft, efteem, into a warmer regard. He was fiar from a
fanguine affurancc that Sophia had any fuch afFedlion to-
wards hira as might promife his inclinations that harvefty

, which, if they were encouraged and nurfed, they would
finally grow up to require. Befides, if he could hope to
find no bar to his happinefs from the daughter, he thought
himfclf certain of meeting an effedual bar in the fathenj
who, though he was a country iquire in his diverfions,
was perfeSly a man of the world in whatever regarded
his fortune ; had the moft violent affeftion for his only
daughter, and had often fignifiedj in his cups, the plea.-
fure he propofed in feeing her married to one of the rich-
eft men in the county. Jones was not fo vain and fenfe-
lefs a coxcomb as to expedl, from any regard which Wef-
tern had profefled for him, that he would ever be induced j
to lay afide thefe views of advancing his daughter. .He j
well knew!, that fortune is generally the principal, if not 5

-the fole confideration, which operates on the bell of pai* i
rents in thefe matters j for- friendfhip makes us. warmly *
efpoufe the intereft of others, but it is very cold to the ;
gratification of their palTrons. Indeed, to feel the happi-- !
nefs which may reftilt from this, it is neceflary we (hould
poffefs the paflion ourfelves. As he had therefore no ^
hopes of obtaining her fafiier's confent ; fo he thought,
to endeavour to fucceed without it, and by fuch means to- i
:&'uftrate tl>e .ffrcat point of Mr Weftern's life, was l^o
make a very ill ufe of his hofpitality, and .a very ungrate-
ful return to the many little ifevours received (however
roughly) at his hands. If he faw fuch a confequence with
horror and difdain, how much more was he fhocked with
what regarded Mr Allwortliy ; to whom, as he had more
than filial obligations, fo had he for him more than filial
piety ? He knew the nature of that good man to be fo a-
verfe to any bafenefs or treachery, that the leaft attempt
of fuch a kind would make the fight of tlie guilty perfon
for ever odious lo his eyes, and his name a deteitable found
in his ears. The appearance of fuch infurmountable dif-
fiiculties was fufHcient to have infpired him with defpair,
however ardent his wifhes had been ; but even thefe were
controlled by compaflion for another woman. The idea-

9/ loveljr Molly now intruded it felf before him. He h»^

^ajL 5^ F O U N D L I N 6: 175.

furorn eternal conftancy in her arras, and'ibf^had as of-.
tCH vowed never to outlive his deferting her. Pfe now ^
faw her in all the moll (hocking poftures of death ; nay,
he coniidered all the miferies of proilitution to which J
fhe would be liable, and of which he would be doubly
the occalion ; firft by feducing, and then by delerting her ; j
for he well knew the hatred which all her neighbours, J
andeven her own fillers bore her, and how ready they
would all be t;o tear her to pieces. Indeed, he had ex-
pofed her to more envy than fhame, or rather to the lat-
ter by mearis of the former ; for many women abufed
her for being a whore, while they envied her lover and
her finery, and would have been tliemfelves glad to have
purchafed thefe at the fame rate. The ruin, therefore,
of the poor girl mull, he forefaw, unavoidably attend
his deferting her ; and this thought (lung him to the foul.
Poverty and didrefs fetmed to him to give none a right
•of aggravating thofe misfortunes. The meannefs of her
condition did not reprefent her mifery as of little confe-
quence in his eyes, nor did it appear to- juftify, or even
to palliate his , guilt in bringing that miicry upon her.
But why do I mention juftitication ? "His own heart would
not fufler him to dcltroy a human creature, who, he thought,
loved him, and had to that love facrriic^d her innocence.
His own good heart pleaded H^r caufe ; not as a cold ve-
nal advocate, but as one intertiled in the event, and which
mud itielf deeply fhare in all the agonies its owner brought
on another.

When this powerful advocate had fofEciently raifed the
pity of Jones, by painting poor Molly in all the circum-
ftanccs of wretclicdnels, it artfully called in the affiltance
of another paffion, and reprefented the girl in all the a-
miable colours of youth, health, and beauty ; as one great-
ly the obje6t of de(ire, and much mpre fo, at leali to a
good mind, from being, at the fame time, the obje£l of
com.pa(Iion.

AmidH thefe thoughts, poor Jones palTed a long fleep-
icfs night ; and in the morning the refult of the whole
was, to abide by Molly, and to think no more of Sophia.

In tkis virtuous refolution he continued all the' next day
UU the evening, cherjftjing the idea of Moll/, and driving
fiiftpliia from hisAhougE^d ;'but in the fatal evenin^^ a yev^

! 176 The H I S T O R Y of a Book4^.

! trifling accident fet all his pafSons again on float, and
vrorked fo total a change in his mind, that we think it dc*
..cent to communicate it in a frefh chapter.

CHAP. IV.

\^ little chapter ^ in tvhich is contained a little incident,

AMoNG other vifitants who paid their compliments
to the young gentleman in his confinement, Mrs
Honour was one. The reader, perhaps, when he reflefts
on fome exprejQions which have formerly dropped from her,,
may conceive that (he herfelf had a very particular affec-
tion for Mr Jones ; but in reality it^was no fuch thing.
Tom was a handfome young fellow ; and for that fpecies
of men Mrs^ Honour had fome regard ; but this was per-
fectly indiferiminate : for having been crofled in the love
which fhe bore a certain nobleman's footman, who ha4
bafdy deferted her after a promife of marriage, (he had fo»
fccurcly kept together the broken remains of her hearty
that no man had ever f5 nee been able to poflcfs himfelf of
any fingle fragment. She viewed all handfome men with
that equal regard and benevolence which a fober and vir-
tuous mind bears to all th^good. She might, indeedj^

be called a lover of men, as Socrates vvas a lover of man-
kind, preferring one to another for corporeal, as he for
mental qualifications ; but never carrying this preference
fo far as to caufe any perturbation in the philofophical fe-
renity of her temper.

The day after Mr Jones had that conflidl with him-
felf, which we have feen in the preceding cliapter, Mrs
Honour came into the room, and finding him alone, be-
gan in the following manner : * La, Sir, where do you

* think I have beem? I warrants you, you would not

* guefs in fifty years ; but if you did fifipjfe, to be fure,

* I mull not tell you neither.' VNgy, i^lt be fopiething

* which you muft not tell me^^HKj(^s, * I fhall hav4

* the curiolitT tp inquire, ^'^'^S^Hfeifite'o^ ^J^ not b«

* fo barbar|ma$itorefafe me.' ^uHraHLnow,' i^ries fhe^^

< why I ilflKt^fitfr^you neifi^^HH^ la^ •

f to be^t^ }29!l* won^ . m&aj£j|^H|^more*, ' lAiid ibi

Chap. 4. FOUNDLING. tff

< that matter, if you knew where I have been, unlefs yoti

* knew what I have been about, it would not fignify much.

* Nay, I don't fee why it fhould be kept a fecret, for my

* part ; for to be fure fhe is the beft lady in the world.*
Upon this Jones began to beg earneftly to be let into'this
fecret, and faithfully promifed not to divulge it. She then
proceeded thus : * Why, you muft know, Sir, my young

* lady fent me to inquire after Molly Seagrim, and to fee

* whether the wench wanted any thing : to .be fure I did

* not care to go, methlnks ; but fervants muft do what

* they are ordered How could you undervalue your-

< felf fo, Mr 'Jones ? — So my lady bid me go, and carry

* her fome linen and other things. She is too good.

« If fuch forward fluts were lent to Bridewell, it would
« be better for them. I told my lady, fays I, Madam,

< your La'fhip is encouraging idlenefs — * * And was my
« Sophia fo good ?* fays Jones. < My Sophia ! I afliirc

* you, marry come up,* anfwered Honour. * And yet

« if you knew all, indeed, if I was as Mr Jones, I

^ fhould look a little higher than fuch trumpery as Mol-
« ly Seagrim/ * What do you mean by thejfe words,* re-
plied Jones, * if I knew all ?* < I mean what I mean,*
fays Honour, < Don't you remember putting your handa

* In my lady's muff once ? I vow I could almoft find in

* my heart to tell, if I was certain ;ny lady would never

< come to the hearing on't.' Jones then mad6 feveral

folemn proteftations. And Honour proceeded, • Then t»

* be fure, my lady give me that muff; and afterwards, u-

* pon hearing what you had done' — • Then you told her

* what I had done !' interrupted Jones. * If I did. Sir,*
anfwered (he, * you need not be angry with me. Many'a

* the m?n would have given his head to have had my lady

* told, if they had known for, to be fure, the biggell

* lord in the land might be proud-^-but, I proteft, I have
^ a great mind not to tell you.* Jones fell to intreaties^
lind foon prevailed on her to go on thus : * You muft
i know then, Sir, that my lady had given this muff to me;

* Jni*. about a day or two after I had toM her the ftory,
f "file quarrels with her new muff, and to be fure it is the
f^rrttieft that ever was feen. Honour, fays fhc, — this ia

\i^ptoi!9iBo;V8 muffj it is too big for me, — I can't wear
^^01;. I. R

rji^^-

^ The H I S T O R Y of a Book It

. * it— till I can get another, you muft let mc have my old

* one again, and you may have this in the room on*t^ — ^for
< for fhe's a good lady, and fcorns to give a thing and

* take a thing, I promife you that. So to be fure I

* fetched it her back again, and, I belieVt, (he hath worn it

* upon her arm almofl ever fmce, and I warrants hath gi-

* vcn it many a kifs when no body hath feen her.'

Here the converfation was interrupted by Mr Weftem
himfelf, who came to fummcn Jones to the harpfichord;
■whither the poor young fellow went all pale and trembling. «
This Weftern obferved ; but on feeing Mrs Honour im- ^
puted it to a wrong caufe ; and having given Jones a hcar^
ty curfe between jell and earneft, he bid him beat abroad
and not potch up the game in his warren.

Sophia looked this evening with more than ufual beau-
ty, and we may believe it was no fmall addition to her
charms, in the eye of Mr Jones, that ^e now happened
to have on her right arm this very muflF.

She was playmg one of her father's favourite tunes,
«nd he was leaning on her chair ,_ when the muff fell over
her fingers, and put her out- This fo difconcerted tbe
fquire, that he inatched the muff from her, and with a
hearty curfe threw it into the fire. Sophia inftantly ftart-
cd up, and with the utmoft eagernefs recovered it from
the flames.

Though this incident will probably appear of little con-
fequence to many of our readers-; yet trifling as it was, it
had fo violent an cfFeft on poor Jones, that we thought
it our duty to relate it. In reality, there are many little cir- ]
cumftances too often emitted by injudicious hiflorians,
from w^hich events of the utmofl importance arife. 1 he
world may indeed be confidered as a vaft machine, in which
the great wheels are originally fet in motion ])y thofe
which are very minute, and almoft impreceptible to aivy
but the flrongefl eyes. . "

Thus, not all the charms of the incomparable SophiJ,
not all tbe dazzling brightnefs, and languiihing foftnefi of
her eyes, the harn < ny cf her voice and of her perfon, n«t
all her wit, good-himour, greatnefs of mind, or fwcctnfi&
of difpofition, had been able fo obfolutely to conquefva^ y
inflavt the heart of poor Jones, as this little ii^tl^iiijij^Eiir "
^viK T'buB the poet iweevly fings of Troy V />:

..^ly^y

Chap. y. FOUNDLING. §75

Captique dotis lachrymifque coaili
^uos neque Tydides-t nee Larijfdeus Achilles^ '

Non arlni domuere decern ^ non mille carina*

What DIomede, or Thetis' greater fon, ^ '

A thoufand faips, nor tens years fiege had done, > \

Falfc tearsy and fawning words, the city won. J

J The citadel of Jones was now taken by furprife. All
tkofe confiderations of honour and prud»»nce, which our
hero had lately, with fo much military wifdom, placed as
guards over the avenues of his heart, ran away from their
poits; and the god of love marched in in triumph.

C H A P. V. 'I

J! very long chapter ^ containing a very great incident*

BUT though this vi£^oriou8 deity eafily expelled hi«
avowed enemies from the heart of Jones, he found
it more difficult to fupplant the garrifon which he himfclf
had placed there. To lay afide all allegory, the concern
for what mull become of poor Molly, greatly difturbed
and perplexed the mind of the worthy youth. The fu-
pcrior merit oi Sophia totally eclip.'ed, or rather extin-
gui/hed, all the beauties of the poor girl ; but compaffion
loilead of contempt, fucceeded to love. He was convinced
the girl had placed all her affefttons, and all her profpedt
of future happinefs, in him only. For this he had, he knew,
given fufficient occaiion, by the utmoft pi'ofufion of ten-
demefs towards her : a tender aefs which he had taken eve-
ry means to pcrfuade her he would always maintaii^. She^
on her fide, had aflured him of her firm belief in his pro-
mife, and had, with the moll folemn vows, declared, that
•im his fulfilling or breaking thefe promifes it depended
'nfccther (he fhould be the happiell or moil miferable of
Jlionaankind. And to be the author of the higheft degree
•^'^ mifery to a human being, was a thought on which he
^4idbl not bear to ruminate a finglc moment. He confider-
i|| J^m poor girl ias having facrificed to him every tiling

*te The HISTORY of a BoofcVS;

in her little power ; as having, been at her own expence^
the obje6^ of his pleafure : as iighing and languiihing for
hiiti even at that vety inilant. Shall then, fays he, niy
recovery, for which fhe hath fo ardently vvifhed ; (hall my
prcfencc, which {he hath fo eagerly expc6led, inflead of
giving her that joy with which fhe had ilattered herfelf,
call her at once down into mifery and defpair ? Can- 1 be
fuch a vallain ? Here, when the genius of poor Molly
fcemed triumphant, the love of Sophia towards him, which
r;ow appeared no longer dubious, rufhed upon his mind^
«nd bore away every obilacle before it.

At length it occurred to him, that he might poffibly be
able to make Molly amends another way, namely, by giv--
ing her a fum of money. This, neverthelcfs, he aloKifl de-'
fpaired of her accepting, when he recolle6led the frequent
and vehement aflurances he had received from her, that the
world put in balance with him would make her no amends for
his lofs. However, her extreme poverty, and chiefly her egre-
gious vanity, (fomewhat of which hath been already hinted
t& the reader,) gave him fome little hope, that notwithftand*
ing all her avowed tenderncfs, fhe might in time be brought
to content herfelf with a fortune fuperiw to her expeSa-
tion, and which might indulge her vanity, by fetting hep
above all her equals. He refolved, therefore, to take the
firft opportunity of making e. propofal of this kind.

One day, accordingly, when his arm was fo well re--
covered that he could walk eafily with it flung in a fafh^
he ftole forth, at a feafon when the fquire was engaged in
his field- exercifes, and vifited his fair one. Her mother
and fiflers, whom he found taking their tea, informed him
firit that Molly was not at home 5 but afterwards, the
cldefl: fiflcr acquainted him, with a malicious (mile, that
fhe was above flairs a-bed. Tom had no objedlion to this
fituation of his miflrefs, and immediately afcended th&
ladder which led towards her bed-chamber ; but, ^hea
he came to the top, he*, to his great furprife, found the
door fall ; nor could he for fome time, obtain any anfwer
from within ; for Molly, as fhe herfelf afterwards iaformed '
him, was fafl aJdeep.

The extremes of grief and joy have been remark- '
ed to produce very fimilar effeds ; and when dtber f
cf tjicfe rufhcs on us by fur]^Tif«^ it is a^t to creatC' liick

^v^

Chap, y: FOUNDLING. t«Jr

a total perturbation and confufion, that we are oft^.a
thereby deprived of the ufe of all our faculties It can-
not therefore be wondered at, that the unexpedlcd fight
of Mr Jones fhould To ftrongly operate on the mind of
Molly, and fhould overwhelm her with fucb confuiion,,
that, for fomc tninutes, (he was unable to exprefs the
great raptures with which the reader will fuppofe (he wa»
affefted on this occafion. As for Jones, he was fo entirely
poffefTed, and, as it were, inchanted by the prefence of him
beloved objedt, that he, for a while, forgot Sophia, and»
confequently, the principal purpofe of his vifit*

This, however, foon recurred to his memory j and,
after the firft tranfports of their meeting were over, he
found means by degrees to introduce a difcourfe on the
fetal confequences which muft attend their amour, if Mr
All worthy, who had (lri<ftly forbidden him ever feeing her
more, (houkl difcover that he ftill carried on this commerce.
Such a difcovery, which his enemies gave him reafon to
think would be unavoidable, muft, he faid,. end in his ruin,
and, confequently, ia hers. Since, therefore, their hard
fates had determined that they mull feparate, he advifed
her to bear it with refolution, and fvvore he would never
omit any opportunity, througli the courfe of his life, of
ihewing her the fincerity of his affedlion, by providing '
for her in a manner beyond her utmoft expectation, or evea
beyond her wifhes, if ever that fhould be in his power ;
concluding at laft, that fhe might foon find fome man who
viould marry her, and who would niake her much happier
than fhe could be by leading a difrcputable life with
bim.

Mully remained a few moments in filence, and then
biirfting into a flood of tears, flie began to upbraid hitn
inr the follming words : * And this is-, your love for rae,

• -to forfake mi^ in this manner, now you have ruined me ?

• How often, when 1 have told you that ail men are f:tlfe,

• .and perjary alike, and grow tired of us as foon as ever

• thuy have had their wicked wills of us, how often have

• .yoti fworn you would never forfake ? And can you b*
« iuch a perjary mm after all ; Wfiat fignifies all thj

• riches in lh.i wor-d to me without you, now yon havii
^^Mttjied my heart, fo you have-r-you have? — Why do •

%%W TU HISTORY of n »o<*¥5

• .you mention another man to me? I can never love any

• other man as long as I live. All other men are nothing

• to me. If the greateft fquire in all the country would

• come a fuiting to me to-morrow, I would not give my

• company to him. No, I (hall always hate and defpife

• the whole fex for your fake.*

She was proceeding thus, when an accident put a ftop
to her tongue, before it had run out half its career. The
room, or rather garret, in which Molly lay, being up one
pair of ftairs, that is to fay, at the top of the houfe, was
of a floping figure, refembling the great Delta of the
Greeks. The Englifh reader may, perhaps, form a better
idea of it, by being told, that it was impoiiible to Hand
upright any where but in the middle. Now, as this room
\tranted the conve^iency of a clofet, Molly had, to fupply
that defed, nailed up an old rug againft the rafters of the
houfe, which inclofed a little hole where her beft apparel,
fiich as the remains of that fack which we have formerly
mentioned, fome caps, and other things with which fhe
had lately provided herfelf, were hung up and iecured (tern
theduft.

This inclofed place exaAly fronted the foot of the bed^ ?
to which, indeed, the rug hung fo near, that it ferved,
in a manner, to fupply the want of curtains. Now, whe-
ther MolJy, in the agonies of her rage, pufticd this rug
v/ith her feet, or Jones might touch it ; or whether m
pin or nail gave way of its own accord, I am not certain |
but as Molly pronounced thofe lad words, which are
recorded above, the wicked rug got loofe from its faft-
iiing, and difcovered every thing hid behind it ; where

femong other female utenfils, appeared (with (hame

I write it, and with forrow will it be read)- ^the phi-

lofopher Square, in a poftiire, (for the place would not
3iear admit his ilanding upright) as ridiculous as can pd^
fibly be conceived. /

The pofture indeed, in which he ftood, was not grei^'* .*
ly unlike that of a foldier who is tied neck and heels ; d^ *
jather' refembling the attitude in which we often fee f^;^ .
lows in the public ftrerts of London, NWho arenOt fti^te^^*
ing but deferving punifhment by fo ftanding. He Iwi^
«] ni^ht-cap belongings to Molly on his head, knd |^1i||!.t
•^t? eyes, the moment tW vug fell, (lared , dip^ijib^^ '"*

*! fo that \riicn the idea q£ i^VivVAo^M >R^>SWkl%^^

<aap, p FOUNDLING. ttf

^c figure now difcovered, it would have been very dif«
£cu]t for any fpedator to have refrained from immoderate
laughter.

1 queftion not but the furprife of the reader, will be here
equal to that of Jones ; a/ the fufpicions which muft arife
from the appearance of this wife and grave man in fucli a
place, may feem fo inconiiftent with that character which he
hath, doubtlefs, maintained hitherto, in the opinion of
every one. •

But to confefs the truth, this inconfiftency is ratHer
imiginary than reaL Philofophers are compofed of fle(h

d blood as well as other human creatures ; and however

A)limated and refined the theory of thefe may be, a little
pradUcal frailty is as incident to them as to other mortals.
It is, indeed, in theory only, and not in pra6lice, as we
have before hinted, that con lifts the difference j for though
foch g^reat beings think much better and more wifely, they
always a6l exaAly like other men. They know very weir
how to fubdue all appetites and paflions, and to defpife
both pain and pleafure : and this knowledge affords much
""rlightful contemplation, . and is eafily acquired : but the

•aCTice would be vexatious and troublefome ; and, there-
fore, the fame wifdom which teaches them to know this,
teaches them to avoid carrying it into execution.

Mr Square happened to be at church, on that Sunday,
when, as the reader may be pleafed to remember, the
appearance of Molly in her fack had caufed all that dif-
turbance. Here he firfl obferved her, and was fo plea<*
fed with her beauty, that he prevailed with the young
gentlemen to change their intended ride that evening,
that he might pafs by the habitation of Molly, and, by
that means, might obtain a fecond chance of feeing her.
This reafon, however, as he did not at that time mention te
aay, fo neither did we think proper to communicate it then
to the reader.

Among other particulars which conftituted the unfit-
m£i of things in Mr Square's opinion, danger and diffi-
li^^werc two. The difficulty, therefore, which he ap-
\0^i^^icd tWe might be in corrupting this young
vm^skif iand tlie danger which would accrue to his cha^
t^/Sjgtim tlie difcovery, were fuch itroog diiruafives, that

t^ ^ . ^fflded ^<^ have contented hirni*

he '^^ff^^^^ ^^^ ^S^^ ®^ beauty fur-
' -ftf^^W^^^Atf^sveft men, after a fiill meal
/ ^^"^fTr oiicn allow themfelves by way of

y fi^' "*t iP^^u^iZofef certain books and pidurcs find

f of ^"ffi^ '^^f^lprivate recefles of their ftudy, and a

^1 ^<f^r/>'^^.^*Lrt of natural philofophy is often the

^^^ip ^'i'l^of their comtvizxioti.
^'dS^f^^c phi^^^^^^^ heard, a day or two after<
™3iit Y^the fortrdfs of virtue had already been fubdu-
f fftfdsf f\-aj2 to gi^c a larger fcope to his deiires. His?

' ^' *'* x^8 not of that fqueamifh kind, which cannot

fP^^t\ jaiflty becaufe another hath tailed it. In fhort^
^^kcd the girl the better for the want of that chaftity,
^hicb, i^ ^^ ^^^ poffelTed it, muft have been a bar to his
Xafores ; he purfued, and obtained her.
.The reader will be miftaken, if he thinks Molly gave
SqtOire the preference to her younger lover r on the con-
tfary, had (he been confined to- the choice ©f one only, Tom
Jones would, undoubtedly, have been, of the two, tlie
^orious perfon. Nor was it folely the confideration^
that two are better than one, (though, this had its proper
freight), to which Mr Square owed his fnccefs : the abfence
of Jones during his confinement was an unlucky circum*
fiance ; and in that interval, fome well-chofen prtfents
from the philofopher fo foftend and unguarded the, girl V
lieart, that a favourable opportunity became irrefiltible^'
and Square triumphed over the poor remains of virtue which ;
fabfifted in the bofom of Molly,

It was^ nojw about a fortnight fince this conqueil, when-
Jones paid the above mentioned vifit to his miftrefs, at a^
time when (he and Square were in bed together. This
was the true reafon why the mother denied her, as w,
have feen ; for as the old woman fiiared in the profits a^ •
rifing from tlie iniquity of her daughter, fhe encouraged*
and protected her in it to the utmoit of her power ; hvHt
fuch was I he envy and hatred which the cldeft fiftcr borfc •
• towards Mo^ly, that notwithftandinfy (he Lad fome part
of the booty, flie would willingly have parted with tbil^l
to ruin her filler and ff>oil her trade. Hence rtie had,ac^ /
qoair.tcd Jones wrth Irtr being above Hairs in bedi.^ii|^'.*
^^Of^cs that he might have C3iu^\it. k<ir in Sqiiaii'ft.»«Mi^i'*"

p. 5. F U N D L I N a i«j

B, however, Molly found means to prevent, as the

• was laftened : which gave her an opportunity of con-
ng her lover behind that rug or blanket where he now
unhappily difcovered.

quare no fooner made his appearance, than M<^ly flung
;lf bkck in her bed, cried out fhe was undone, and
idoned herfelf to' defpair. This poor girl, who was
3ut a novice in her bufinefs, had not arrived to that
rfkion of aflurance which helps off a town-lady in any
:mity, and either prompts her with an excufe or elfe
res her to brazen out the matter with her hufband ;

from love of quiet, or out of fear of his reputation,
fomctimes, perhaps, from fear of the gallant, who,
one Mr Conftant in the play, wears a fword, is glad
lut his eyes, and contented to put his horns in his
let. Molly, on the contrary, was filenced by this
ince, and very fairly gave up a catife which fhe had
:rto maintained with lo many tears, and with fuch
m and vehement proteftations of the pureft love and
Lancy.

j& to the gentleman behind the arras, he was not ia
ii lefs conftemation. He flood for a while motionlefs,
feem«d equally at a lofs what to fay, or whither t&
treft his eyes^ Jones, though perhaps the mofl a-
fhed of the three, firfl found his tongue ; and, being
ediately recovered from thofe uneafy ienfations which
y by her upbraidings had occafioned, he burfl inta
id laughter, and then faluting Mr Square, advanced
ike him by the hand, and to relieve him from his place
onfinement.

juare being now arrived ii the middle of the room,,
hich part only he could fland upright, looked at Jones

a very grave countenance, and laid to him, * Well,
r, I fee you enjoy this mighty difcovery, and, I dare
ear, tafie great delight in the thoughts of expofing
r; but if you will confider the matter fairly, you
11 find you are yourfelf only to blame. I am not
pty pf corrupting innocence. I have done nothing

• which that part of the world which judges of mat*

• by the rule of right, will condemn me. Fitnefs ia
f«raed by the nature of things, and not by cuftoms,
'if^i or municipal laws. NoXidu^ \% 'vgA<^^ nss&^v

%i6 The HISTORY of a BodkfS |

< which is not unnatural.* * Well reafoned, old bo^*
anfwered Jones ; * but why doft thou think that I fhould^ j

* defire to expofe thee ? I promife thee, I was never beti ]

* ter pleafed with thee in my life ; and unlefs thou haft 3
« a mind to difcover it thyfclf, this affair may remain a

* profound fecret for me.' * Nay, Mr Jones,* replied >
Square, * I would not be thought to undervalue reputa-

* tion. Good fame is a fpecies of the Kalon, and it id • ;
•^ by no means fitting to ncgledl it. Befides, to murder j

* one's own reputation is a kind of fuicide, a deteftable and I

* odious vice. If you think proper, therefore, to conceal \
« any infirmity of mine, (for fuch I may have, fince no

* man is perfedly perfed), I promife you I will not bc-

* tray myfelf. Things may be fitting to be done, which i

* are not fitting to be boafted of; for by the perverfe u
*^judgment of the world that often becomes the fubje6l of ]

* cenfure^ which is, ia truth, not only innocent but laud- ^

* able.' « Right,' cries Jones, * what can be more in- •*

* nocent than the indulgence of a natural appetite ? or what

* more laudable than the propagation of onr fpecies ? To

* be ierious with you,' anfwered Square, I profefs they
« always appeared fo to me.' * And yet,' faid Jones,

* you was of a different opinion, when my affeir with thi»

* girl was firfl difcovered.' * Why, I muft confefs ;' fay»
Square, < as the matter was mifrcprefented to me by that

* parfon Thwackum, I might condemn the corruption of

* innocence: it was that Sir, it was that — and that— t

* for you mufl know, Mr Jones, in the confideration of

* fitnefs, very minute circumflances, Sir, very minute cir*

* cumflances caufe great alteration.'- * Well,' cries.

Jones, * be that as it will, it fhall be your own fault, as I

/:* have promifed you, if you ever hear any mort; of thi»'

* adventure. Behave kindly to the girl, and I will never

* open my lips concerning the matter to any one. Aod*'

* Molly, do you be faithful to your friciid, and I wiU jmII^

* only forgive your infidelity, to me, but will do vou /iB

* the fervice I can.' So faying, he took a hafty let«B»*
and flipping down the ladder, retired with much cxpibcS*
tion. . • 'X'^

Square was rejoiced to find this adventure w^w ii,
to have no worfe conciufion ; and as for Moll^<
£SQpovered from her coufufioi^, flx^ be^u at &dk tft.

."tfii^j

aia|>. & FOUNDLING. 1*7

braid Square with having been the occafion of her lofs of
Jones ; but that gentleman foon found the means of mi-
tigating her anger, partly by carefles, and partly by a
fmall noftrum from his purfe, of wonderful and approved
efficacy in purging off the ill humours of the mind, and in
jell oring it to a good temper.

She then poured forth a vaft profiifion of tendernefs to-

, iirards her new lover ; turned all fhe had faid to Jones, and

Jones himfelf into ridicule, and vowed, though he once had

♦he pofTeffion of her perfon, that none but Square had

iCver been malter of her heart.

C H A P. VI.

Py compart fig ivhich ivifh the former ^^ the reader may pofft*
bly correal fome ahufe *\Mch he hath formerly been guilty
of in the application of the *word Love,

TH E infidelity of Molly, which Jones had now difco-
vered, would, perhaps, have vindicated a much
jrreater degree of refentment than he exprefTed on the oc-
jcafion ; and if he had abandoned her dire6lly from that
j&oment, very few, I believe, would have blamed him.

Certain, however, it is, that he faw her in the light
of cgwipaffion : and though his love to her was not of
that kind which could give him any great uneafinefs at
her incoaftancy : yet he waa not a little (hocked on re-
Jftedling that he had himfelf originally corrupted her in-
nocence ; for to this corruption he imputed all the vice
into v^hich fhe appeared now fo likely to plunge herfelf.

This confideration gave him no little uneafinefs, till
Betty, the elder filler, was fo kind fome time afterwards-
entirely to cure him by a hint, that one Will Barnts^ and
4iOt himfelf, had been the firft fcducer of Molly ; and that
jlj^e Jittle child, which he had hitherto fo certainly conclud-
1^ ^o be his own, might very probably have an equal title,
^ Icaft, to claim Barnes for Its father.
. » Jones eagerly purfued this fcent when he had firft re-
*»^d it ; and in a very (hort time w^s fuHicieiitly afTurad
the girl had told him truth, not only by the confef-
^X>f the fellow, but, at lail, by that of Molly herfeifc
"""» Will Barnes was a country- gaAl^SwWt, ^sA W^

i88 The H I S TO R Y of a iSookY-r

quired as many trophies of this kind as any cnfign or at-
torney's clerk in the kingdom. He had, indeed, reduced
feveral women to a ftate of utter profligacy, had broke
the hearts o^ fome, and had the honour of occafioning the
violent death of one poor girl, who had either drowned
herfelf, or, what was rather more probable, had been
drowned by him.

Among other of his conquefts, this fellow had triumph-
ed over the heart' of Betty Seagrim. He had made love
to her long before Molly was grown to be a fit objeft of
that paftime ; but had afterwards deferted Her, and ap-
plied to her filler, with whom he hid almoft immediate
fuccefs. Now Will had, in reality, the fole pofleflion of
Molly's affedlion, while Jones and Square were almoft c<
qually facrifices to her intereft, and to her pride.

Hence had grown that implacable hatred which we have
before feen raging in the mind of Betty ; though we did
not think it neceflary to allien this caufe fooner, as envy
itfelf alone was adequate to all the effefts we have men-
tioned.

Jones was become perfeAly eafy by pofleffion of this
fecret with regard to Molly ; but as to Sophia, he was
far from being in a ftate of tranquillity ; nay, indeed, he
was under the moft violent perturbation : his heart was
now, if I may ufe the metaphor, entirely evacuated^ and
Sophia took abfolute pofleffion of it. He loved her with
an unbounded paflion, and plainly faw the tender fenti-
ments flie had for him ; yet could this afiurance not leflen
his defpair of obtaining the confent of her father, nor the
horrors which attended his purfuit of her by any bafe or
treacherous method.

The injury which he muft thus do to Mr Weft em, and
the concern which would accrue to Mr Allworthy, were
circumftances that tormented him all- day, and haii^<4
him on his pillow at night. His life was a conflant f|n>fff
glc between honour and inclination, which ak^il^ai^,
triumphed over each other in his mind. He often re{Sfft%
in the abfcnce of Sophia, to leave her fathcr*^^ houft9^j|p4
to fee her no more ; and as often, in her preftpft^ '* '^'
all thofe refolutions, and determined to purfuc."
hazard of his life, and at the forfeiture of wl
dearer to him* '^^* '^^^1^

Caap.6. FOUNDLING* 189

.This conflidt began foon to produce very ftrong and
tifible effcdls : for ne Joft all bis ufual fprightlinefa and
gki^y of temper, and became not only melancholy when
2one, but dejeded and abfent in company ; nay, if even*
kiB put on a forced mirtb, to comply with Mr Weftern*s
humour, thS conftraint appeared fo plain, that he feemed
to have been giving the lirongeft evidence of what he en-
deavoured to conceal by fuch often tation.

It may, perhaps, be a queftion, whctl)^ the art which
he ufed to conceal his paflion, or the means which hontit
nature employed to reveal it, betrayed him moft : for
wliilc art made him more than ever referved to Sophia, and
forbad him to addrefs any of his difcourfe to her ; nay, to
avoid meeting her eyes with the utmoft caution, nature
was no lefa bufy in counterplotting him. Hencej at the
appfoach of the young lady, he grew pale ; and if this was
fudden, ftarted. If his eyes accidentally met hers, the
blood rufhed into his checks, and his countenance became
all over fcarlet. If common civility ever obliged him to
fpeak to her, as to drink her health at table, his tongue
T^as fure to faulter. If he touched her, his hand, nay his
whol'e frame, trembled. And if any difcourfe tended,
however remotely, toraife the idea of love, an ihvoluntary
iigh' feldom failed to fteal from his bofom. Moft of which '
Occidents Nature was. wonderfully indd^rious ta throw
daily in his way. '

All thefe fymptoma cfcaped the notice of the fqlttre ;
l>ttt not fo of Sophia. She foon perceived thefe agita»
tkms of mind in Jonc^s, and was at no lofs to difcover the
eaufe f for intked (he recognized it in her own breaft.
And' this recognition is, I fuppofe, that fympathy which
Jiath been fo often noted in lovers, and which will fuin-
Ctetftly account for her being fo much quicker- fighttd
|JU|l» her father.

^J*iBot, to fay the truth, there is a more fimple and plain
hod of accounting for that prodigious fuperiority of •
Tttatlon which w^ muft obferve in fome men over the
the human fpecics, and one which will ferve not
^in the cafe of lovers, but of all others. Froitl'
J • is it that* the knave is generally fo quick-fightcfl
ffymptoins and operations of knavu^ry which of-
ftj an hi;in^ft man of a rauOa. \i^\X^^ va.t^^'^^^'t-^^'^-

a- a

tpo The p, I S T R Y of a l^k T.

Tbene furcly is no general fympathy among knaves, tor
have they, like free mafons, any common fign of commii-
xiication. In reality, it. is only becaufe they have the
fame thing in their heads, and their thoughts arc turned
the fame way. Thus, that Sophia faw, and that Weftern
did not fee the plain fymptoms of love in Jones,* can be no
wonder, when we confider that the idea of love never
entered into the head of the father, whereas the daughter
at prcfent, thought of nothing elfe.

When Sophia was wcU fatisfiedof the violent paffion
which tormented poor Jones, and no lefs certain that (be
herfelf w^g its obje6t, fhe had not the Icaft difficulty in dif-
covering the true caufc of his prefent behaviour. This
Jiighly endeared him to her, and raifed in her mind two of
the bell afftdlions which any lover can wifh to raife in a
miilrefs. Thefe were efleem and pity ; for fure the
jnoll outrageouily rigid among her fex will excufe her pity-
ing a man, whom flie faw milerable on her own account:
nor can they blame her for efteeming one who vifibly, from
the moft honourable motives, endeavoured to {mother a
ilame in his own bofom which, like the famous Spartan
theft, was preying upon and confuming his very vitals.
Thus his backwardnefs, his fhunning her, his coldnefs,
SLXid his fileoce ivere the forwardeft, the moft diligent, the .
v^xmtA, ^nd moft eloquent advocates ; ^nd wrought fo
violently on herTcnfible and tender heart, that fhe foon
felt for hiJ!n ?ill thofe gentle fenfations which are confiftcnt

with a 'virtuous and elevated female nijnd ; in fhqrt, all

^hich cfteem, gratitude, and pity, can infpire in fuch,
towards an ag;'eeable man — indeed, all which the niceft
delicacy can allow,- — In a word,— :-{l)c was in love with hini
to diftrad^iou.

One day this young couple accidentally met in the gar* '
den, at the end of two walks, jyhich were both bound*-
cd by tha.t c.^nal in which Jones had formerly riiked drown*
ing to retrieve the little bird thajt Sophi^ had there loft.

This place had beeen, pf late, much frequented by SOf
phia. Here (he ufed to ruminate, with a mixture of piui>
aiid pleafure, on an incident which, Jiowever trifling. i||^
itfelf, had poffibly fown the hrft feedsjof that -^^iStli^ji^
;^*'hich was now arrived to fiTch maturity in her hea)f|fi§^j{^ -jj^
— Hcr^ then this young co\ipVe mcV% TUe-j w< ^^-*--^^-"^

CJhap. 6, ^F O U N D L I H. a -^•' tgt

clofe together before either of them knew any thing of
the other'* approach. A by-llander would ]|ave difco-
vered fufScient marks of confulion in the countenance of
each ; but they felt too much themfelves to nftike any
obfervation. As foon as Jones had a little recovered his
firft furprife, he accofted the young lady with fome of
the ordinary forms of falutation, which flie, in the fame
mariner, returned, and their converfation began, as, ufualj
on the delicious beauty of the morning. Hence they*
pafled to the beauty of the place, on which Joties launch*
ed forth very Irigh encomiums. When they came to the
tree whence he had formerly tufnbled into the canal, So-
phia could not help reminding him of that accident, and
laid, * I fancy. Mi' Jones, you have fome little ihuddering

• when you fee that water.^ * I aflure you, Madam,' an-
Iwefed Jones, * the concern you felt at the lofs of you^

• little bird, will always appear to me the higheft cirw

• cumftance in thart adventure. Poor tittle Torhmy, thercf

• is the branch he Hood upon. How cotild the little

• wretch hate the folly to fly away from that ftate of hap-«

• pinefs in which I had the honour to place him? Hi»

• fate was a juft purfifhmerit for his ingratitude.' / * Upon

• my word, Mr Jones',^ faid (he, * your gallantry very
•< narrowly efcaped as fevere a' fate. Sure the remem-
* ' hrance muft affeCt you.' ' ' Indeed, Madam,' anfwered
he, * if I have any reafon to refledl with*fortow on it, it

• is, perhaps, that the water had not been' a little deeper^
« by which I might have' efcaped many bitter heart-achs,
< that Fortune feems to have in llore for me.' * Fy, M]f

• Jones,' replied Sophia, * I am fure you ca:nnot be in
<* Darnell now. This- affe6l€d contempt of life is only a»
:* excefs of your cotnplaifance to me. You would endea-
'•' vour> to leffen the obligation of havin^g twice ventured it
'* for my fake. Beware the third time.' — -She fpoke thefe
laft words with a fmilc and ' a foftncfs inexpreflible. ' Jones
anfwered with a figh, < He feared it was already too late

• for caution ;' and then looking tenderly and Iledfaftly
Oil her, he cried, * Oh ! Mifs Weftern,— can you dellre?

I .^Mcto live? can you wifti me fo ill ?' — Sophia, looking:

I'lji^wn on the ground, anfwered with fome hetitation,

i >*>|»d«d, Mr Jdnc«, I do noWwifh yon «1V — < Oh! I

' . ";i^^llglifm too well that heavenly temi^x y «d<^ ^^<a»>^ ^

T^ie HISTORY pf a |^j

I .goodnefs which Js beyond every other cha

81^' anfwered (lie, * I underftand you not

lip longer.' — ' I — I would not be uiiderft(

ay, I can't be underftood. I know not "

eting you here fo unexpedledly, — I

been unguarded :■— for Heaven's fake pardon me,
. * have faid any thing to ofFend you — rl did not mean

* indeed, I would rather have died, — ^nay, the very tho

* would kill me.' ' You fui-prife me,' anfwered fh

* How can you polTibly think you. have offended
,j Fear, Madam,* fays he, eafily runs into madnefs 5
/ there IS no decree of fear like that which I feel of ol

< ing you. How c^n I fpeak then I Nay, don't

< angrily at me, one frown will deftroy me.^ — I meai
« thing.— Blame my ^yesy or blaipe thofe bea^ti

< A\^at am I faying ! Pardon me if I have laid too i
/ My heart overfiowed. I have llruggk4 with m^
.* to the utmcll, and have endeavoured to conceal a

* which preys pn my vitals, and will, I hope, fox)^^

* it impofiible for me ever to offend you mprCf'

Mr Jones nov/ fell a trembling as if he l^adbeei
^•;^i with the fit of an ague. Sophia, who was- in a
.t ion not very different frpm his, anfvyered jii th^fe w
/ Mr Jones, I will noi? aficcl to mifunderftand. yp\i

* deed I tinderftand you too W/^B s t>jlitj for He_a

* fake, if you have any affcdli^n for me, let me .n^ak

* beft of any way into the houfe. I vyilli I may be al

* fupport myfelf thither.'

Jones, who was hardly able to fupport himfelf,
Jicr his arm, which (he condefcended to ^gcept, but
ged he would not niention a word- move .to her oi
;iatiire at prefent. IJe piomifed he wo u)d not, in(
orjy qn her for^iveijnefs of- what love, without the
of his will, had forced from hira ; this, (he told hir
knew how to obtain, by his future behaviour ; and
this young pair tottered an4 trembled along, the love
jtmce daring to fqueqsse the hand of his miflrefs, th
it was locked in his.

Sophia immediately retired, to her chamber, yiheti
Honour and tlK harts-horn v^'^ere fiimmoncd to hjer 1
ance. < As tQk$QOr Jones, the only relief to his (JiflNl
c J m/ijd j^^^ai 4j> iinwdcome pitce of tvcvrs, whicl^cr

eKap;> 7.. F O U N D L I N G. 193

optns a fccneof a different nature from thofe in which the
jcader hath lately been convcrfant, will be communicated
tO'him in the next chapter.

CHAP. VII.

In luhich Mr All'v^rthy appears on a Jick-hed.-

MR Weftern was become fo fond of Jones, that he '
was unwilling to -part "v^ith him, though his arm
had been long fmce cured ; and Jones, either from the*
Ibve of fport, or from fome otlier reafon, was eafily per-
fuaded to continue at his houfe, which he did fometlmes
for a fortnight together, without paying a iingle vifit at
Mr All worthy's ; nay, without ever hearing from thence.
Mr All worthy had been, for fome days, indifpofed
with a cold, which had been attended with a little fever.
This he had, however, negleded, as it was ufual with
him to do all manner of diforders which did not confine
him to his bed, or prevent his feveral facalties from per-
forming their ordinary funftions. A condudl which we
would by no means be thought to approve or recommend
to imitation : for furely the gentleman of the iETculapian ^
art are in the right in advifing, that the moment the dif-
eafe is entered at one door,, the phyficiafi fhould be in-
troduced at the other ; what elfe is meant by that old
adage, ^ Venienti dccnrrite morho ? * Oppofe a diftemper '
*'at its Tirll approach.' Thus the do6lor r.nd the difeafe
meet in fair and equal conflid^ ; whereas, by giving time
to the letter, we often fuffer him to fortify and intrench
himfelf, like a French army ; fo^hat the learned gentleman
finds it very diiiicult, and fometimes, in-rpofTible to come at
the enemy. Nay, fometimes by dSirii^ time, the difeafe"
applies to the French military poilti(%^d corrupts nature
over to his fide, and then all the p©tii|» o£ phyfic mufl-
jUtrive too late. Agreeable to thefe obiiOTptions \vas,. I re-
member, the complaint of the great .>^JpiHSE!l(lifaitbin,^ who ^

• i|fed very pathetically to lament the late i^plii^ons which-
VffStQ made to his fklll : .faying, * By ga#^.;Mf»f|^eheve x\\j-'

' ^jjtloQ take me for de undertaker : for de^n jiiif ^ fea i ^fg^tr
>,j^4plvthe phyficionhaveikilJ^em.t W^

itMr-

154 The H I S TO R Y ofa BookV:

Mr All\vorthy*8 diftemper, by means of this negle^r
gained fuch ground, that, when the increafe of his fever
obliged hira to fend for afliftance, the do£lor,^ at his firft
arrival, fliook his head, wifhed he had been fent for fooner,>
and intimated that he thought him in very imminent dan*
ger. Mr Allworthy, who had fettled air his affairs in thir
world, and w^s as well prepared as it is poffible for human
nature to be, for the other, received this, information with
the utmoil calmnef^ and unconcern. He could, indeeJi,
■whenever he laid htrafelf down to reft,, fay with Cato in
the tragical poem,

*Let guilt or fear

Dipurh tnati's r<:fl, Cato kno'uxf neither of them ;
Indifferent in his choice ^ tojiecp or die.

In reality he could fay this with ten times more rcafon andi
confidence than Cato, or anyi other proud fellow among*
the ancient or modern heroes : for he was not only devoid'
of fear, but might be confidered as a faithful labourer,
when, at the end of harveft, he is fummoned to receive
his reward at the hands of a bountiful' mafter.

The good man gave immediate orders for all his femily
to be fummoned round him. None of -thefe were their
abroad, but Mrs Blifil, who bad been fome time in Lon-
don, and Mr Jones, whom the reader had juft parted from*
at Mr Weftern'i, and who received this fummons juft as*
Sophia had left him. ^

The news of Mr Allworthy V danger (for the fervanP
told him' he was dying) drove all thoughts of love out of
Ills head. He hurried inftantly into the chariot which yt^stT'
ient for him, and ordered the coachman to drive vnth^D
imaginable hafte ; nor did the idea of Sophia, I bclievCr
once occur to him on the way.

And now, tbe vw^olS family, n«mely, Mr Blifil, Mr
Jones, Mr Thwacjuaaji* -Mr Squarcf and fome of the fer-
vants (for fuch vWMf-e Mr All worthy's orders) being all
affembkd round m' bed, the good m?.n fat up in it, and
was beginning, Wifpeak, when Blifil fell to bliibKTing,
aiKi begun ta c^^efs very loud and bitter Irmrntatioiit*^
Upon this I^f|i-All worthy (hook him by tile hand, and laidt"
* JDojiQt i^<?^ thus, my dear nephew, ut the moft^'ofw.
'\dlmry ^,M human occuntuccw Wlxcix ixiiafortuncik

.i^

Oiap. 7. F O UN D L I K a f9/

* befal our friends we are juftly grieved; for thofe are
••Mgidents which might often have been avoided, and
•^Wich may feem to render the lot of one man more pe-

* culiarly. unhappy than that of others* : but death 13

* certainly unavoidable, and is that common lot, in whfcR

* alone the fortunes of all men agree : nor is the time wKen

* this happens to us very material. If the wifeft of meii

* hath compared life, to a fpan, furely we may be allowed

* to confider it as a day. It is my fate to leave it in the

* evening ; but thofe who are taken away earlier, have

* only loft a few hours, at the beft little worth lamentirigi

* and much oftcner hours of labour and fatigue, of paiii

* and forrow. One of the Roman poets, I remember,

* likens our leaving life to our departure from a feaft. A

* thought which hath often occurred to me, when I have

* feen men ftruggling to protradt.an entertainment, and tci

* enjoy the company of their friends a few moments longer.

* Alas ! how fhort is the moft protrafted of fuch enjoy-

* ments \ how immaferral the difference between him who

* retires the fooneft, aiid him who ftays the lateft ! This is

* feeing life in the beft view, and thisr unwillingnefs to quit

* our friends is the moft amiable motive from which we

* can derive the fear of death ; and yet the longeft en-
,• joyment which we can hope for of this kind, is of fo

* trivial a duration, that it is to a vnfe man truly con-

* temptible. Few men, I own, think in this manner : for,

* indeed, few men think of death till they are in its jaws.

* However gigantic and twrrible an obje6i: this may ap-

* pear when it approaches tliem, they are neverthelefs in-

* capable of feeing it at an^ diftance ; nay, though they

* have been ever fo much alarmed and frightened wh'eii

* they have apprehend d thvm^clves in danger of dying,

* they were no fooner cleared from this apprehenfi'on, than

* even the fears of it are erafed from their minds. Biit

* alas ! he who efcapes from Death is not pardoned,, he

* is only reprieved^ and reprieved to a fliort day;

' < Grieve, therefore, no more, my dear child, on this

* occaiion ; an event which may happen every * hour,

* which every element, nay, almoft every particle of

* matter that furrounds us is capable of produdng, and
♦♦ which muft and- will moft- unavoidably reach u» «d'

f^S The HISTORY of a % Book Vs

* at laft, ought neither to occafion our furprife nor oais'fi

* lamentation. 1^ _ ^

* My phyfician having acquainted me, ^||^ich '^^MKtf

* very kindJy of him), that 1 am in danger of leaving you
' all very fhortly, I have determined to fay a few words to.

* you at this our parting, before my diftemper, which I

* find, grows very fall upon me, puts it out of my power*-

* But I fliall wafte my ftrcngth too much — I intended

* to fpeak concerning my will, which tho* I have fettled

* long ago, I think proper to mention fuch heads of it a»

* concern any of you, that I may have the comfort of per-

* ceiving you are all fatisfied with the provifion I have there
^ made for you.

* Nephew Bliiil, I leave you the heir to my whole e-

* flate, except only 500 1. a-year, which is to revert to-

* you after the death of your mother, and except one other

* eftate of 500 1. a-year, and the fum of 6000 1. which -

* I have bellowed in the foUovying manner.

*' The eftate of 500 1. a year I .have given to you Mr'

* Jones. And^ as I know the inconvenience which attends^

* the want of ready money, I have added 1000 1. in fpe--

* cie. In this I know not whether I have exceeded or

* fallen fhort of your expedation. Perhaps you will

* think I have given you too little, and the worfd will be:

* as ready to condemn me for giving you too much ; buli

* the latter cenfure I defpife ; and as to the former, un*-

* lefs you (hould entertain that common error, which
« I have often heard in my Ijfe pleaded as an excufe for'

* a total want of charity, naiiiely, that inftead of railing •

* gratitude by voluntary adls %£ bounty, we are apt to raife

* demands, which, of all others,, are the moft boundlefs:

* and moft difficult to fatisfy.. — Pardon' me the bare men-*-

* tion of this ; I will not fufpe^l any fuch thing.'

Jones flung himfclf at his benefaftor's feet, and taking*
eagerly hold of his hand, afiiired him his goodnefs to him^ .
both now, and at all other tintes, had'fo infinitely exceed*-
ed not only his merit, but his hopes, that no words
could exprefs his fenfe of it. * And I afiure you, Sir/ '
faid he, * your prefent generofity hath left me no other-

* concern than for the prefent melancholy occafion. — Oh^*
f myfiiendi my father!' Here his words choaked- hipi>,>

Cbap, ^- T O U N P-JL I N Gk ;i97

-^ ^ ^e turned away to hide a tear which was ftarting from

«rprthy tten gently Tqueezed his hand, and proceed-
^ccl tnu3 : * i am convinced, my child, that you have mudi

* gopdnefs, generofity, and honour in your temper ; if

* ypu will add prudence asid religiofi to thefe, you mull

* be tappy \ for the three former qualities, I admit, make

* you worthy of happinefs, but they are the latter. only
^ i^hich will put you in poffeffioja of it.

• One thoufand pounds I have give to you, Mr Thwac-

* kura ; a fura, I am con^nced, which greatly exceeds

* your defires, as well as your^ wants. However, you
« ynll receive it\;as ,a (memorial of my friendftiip ; and

* vrhatever fiiperfluities^ ;may redound . to you, that piety

* wMchyou fo.r^idiy maintain, wiil ir^mdi you how to ~

< difpofe of them.

* A like fuiri, ' Mr Square, I have bequeathed to you*

* l^bis, I hope, wUl enable you to purfue your profeffioh

* with better fuccefs than hitherto. I have often obfer-

* ved with concerji/ that idiftr.efs fe more apt to excite

* contempj: than commiferation, efpecially among men

* of bufinefs, with whom poverty is underftood lo indi-

* i^te want of ability. But the little I have l>cen able to

* l^ave ypu, will extricate you from . tbefe difficulties

* witt which you have formerly ftruggled ; and then I

* 4Qubt not but ydu will meet with fufficient profperity
f tp.fupply what ^ man of your |)hilofophical temper will
rjrequire. . -sv.

' * I;firvd myfelf g?*owipg. &v>t, fo I ftiall refer you to
'* my will for my di%>of]tioii(iftf the refidue. My lervants

< will jdh^ere fin4 fome tokervsi to remember m^e by ; sud
.fitter? are a fe^w charities vj^'hicji, I truft, my .execiitof s

* will fee faithfully performed. Blefs you all. I am fet-
;«;ti€ig out a little before you.'

- , JJer4 a fpptnEi,an came haijily. i/ito the room^and fafd
^fr^ t^^as an attorney froitt Salisbury,* .who had a par-
:tii:^lar inwjflage, which' he faid he muft communicate to
JM^ iAHwprthy hijtnfelfv: that he feemed in' a violent Kur-
:J^' ^o4 protefted. he had fo much bufmefs to do, that if
kis^ould cut iimfelf into four quarters, aH . wo4al4 not be

}f^'

. ^^T^Jrh Tn ^: "tftj wVi irii vnit"

^wliatl^

>^^^/i mc,ii^ which you are
^^ed than-myfelf. Befide^,

.^^y^^^bkoiittvA^ any

one at pre-
tbcir fakted

> ^>^r ^ns be fhould be abJe^ to fee them

'^ yV ^^ °°^ S^^^ *® compofe himfelf ^

, r-;)^ ^l^i**'/,^ Jiad too much exhaufted his fpiritfc^

yK< ^fy ^^ '

^^, ^flipany fhed tcar» at their parting-; antt

/^^'^^^vbcr Square wiped hk eyes, ableit, unufed

f^P^'^Zood.' As to Mrs Wilkius, fhe'dropt het

^/i^i^^^sis the Arabian trees their mediciBal gums :

'^^/i ^ g a ceremonial which that gentlewoman never

jTF/^'f^ff a proper /occafion. ^ '•

^^1 r this Mr Allworthy again laid himfelf down on

• '"^W* and endeavoured to compofcd himfelf to reft. '

CHAR VIIL

C&ntainfng matter rather natural than pleajfng, , >

E S I D E S grief for her mafter, there was another

fource for that briny ftream which fo pfentifuHy rofe

^DQyt the two mountainous cheek-bones of the hotrfe-

f ' Jtceper. She was no fooner retired, than flie begaii tb-

K ' gutter to herfelf in th^ following pleaiantftrain : * iltti

\[ i mafter might have made Come difference, mcthinks, W«

f» tween me and thie other l^rvants. I fuppofe he hath left

?< me mourning; but i'fecMos ! if that ble all^ the dfcvft

fffhali wear it for him' for me. I'd have his Worftiife^

i * know I am no beggar. I, have fa^vcd five hXindr^d ^una

^, '• in hisvfervice, and after all to be ufed in this mariiieA

€ _It is a fine encouragement to fe^vants to be howe^V

< and^' to be fure, if ' I have taken a little fome|hing now'

^ -^ * and then, others have tal^en ten times as mvich ^ and

* now we are all' put in a lump together. If fo bfi^ that

* it be fo, th'e legacy ' may go to the devil with hiln that

* gave it. No, I wcn't give it up neither,' b^aiufe tluii

' < will pleafe fome folks. No, I'll buy the gayeft^^^;
' J can get, and dance over the old curmudgeoi)[?i _
/ m lu This is » my reward for uWa^ld& ^wt fo Ofty

'^ )^

\Quip. 8. FOUNDLI:NG. ijr

iwhen all the country have cried fhame of him, for breed-
ing up Ills baftard in that manner ; but he is now go- '
ing where he mull pay for all. It would have become
him better to have repented of his (ins on his death bed,

* than to glory in them, and give away his eftate out of

* his own family to a mifbegotten child. Found in his
t * bed, forfooth ! a pretty ftory ! ay, ay, thofe that hide

* know where to iind. Lord forgive him, I warrant he

* hath jnany more baftards to anfwer for, if the truth

* was known. One comfort is, they will all be known '

* where he is a-going now. * The fervants will find

* Tome tokens to rememl)cr me by.* Thofe were the
^ very words ; I fhall never forget them, if I was to live

* ^ thwifand years. Ay, ay, I (hall remember you for

* buddling me among the fervants. One would have »

* thought he might have mentioned my name as well as

* that of Square ; but he is a gentleman forfooth, though^
*-^he had not cloaths on his back when he came hither
■*.firft. Marry come up with fuch gentlemen! though

* he hath lived here this many years, 1 don't believe there
*.is arrow a fervant in the boufc ever faw the colour of

* his money. The devil (hall wait upon fuch a gentlemaa

* for me.' Much more of the like kind (he muttered to
herfclf ; but this taftc (hall fuffice to the reader .

. Neither Thwackum nor Square were much better fatif-
fied with their legacies. Though they breathed not their
•refentment fo loud, yet from the difcontent which appear-
ed in their countenances, as well as from the following
.dialogue* we colled that no great pleafure reigned in their
minds. »

, About an hour after they had left the fick room

tSquare met Thwackum in the hall, and 'accofted him

thus : * Well, Sir, have you heard any news of your

i *• frieod fince we parted from him ?' * If you mean Mr

^ '«:, All worthy,' anfwered Thwackum, * I think you might

^ 4_ rather give . him the appelktion of your friend : for he

* feems to me to have delcrved that title.' * The title is
i *: as good on your fide,* replied Square, * for his bounty
\ f &ch as it is hath been equal to both.' * I (hould not
" - jft^ltave mentioned it firil,' cries Thwackum, * but fince you

*^%ik€gin> I muft inform you I am of a different opinion.
fc :f%.50i«re is a wide diiUndion betw^ica Nol\M\\ax^ W^nw.%

20OI The. K^I^S T^ R Yof'« B&MV:;*

* the care I have taken in the education of Jiis two bpyi^
•are fervices for which fomc men might have expected a '

* greater return. I would not have you imagine I am

* therefore diffatisfied ; for St Paul hath taught me to

* be content with the little I have. Had the modicum
< been lefs, I (hould have known my duty. Biit though

* the Scripture obliges me to remain contented, it doth

* not injoin me to fhut my eyes to my own merit, nor re-

* ftrain me from feeing, when I am injured by aTn unjuft'

* comparifon.' * Since you provoke me,' returned Square, '

* that injury is done to me : nor did I ever imagine Mr
•Allworthy had held my friendfhip fo light, as to put

* me in balance with one who received his wages : I»knoW

. *tto what it is owing; it proceeds from thofe narrow'
'•principles which you have been fo long endeavouring to

* infufe into him, in contempt of every thing which is ' '
<- great and noble. The beauty and lovelinefs of friefid-

* fhip is too ftrong for dim eyes, nor^can it be percceiv-
^ cd by any other medium, than that unerring rule of

^ right which you have fo often endeavoured to ridi-
« cule, that you have perverted your friend's underfland-
* I wifh,' cries Thwackum, in a rage, * I wifh,
for the fake of his foul, yodr damnable dodlrines have
*.not perverted his faith. It is to this I impute his

* prefent behaviour, fo unbecoming a CHriftian. Who

* but an Atheift could think of leaving the world without
*• having firll made up his account ? without confeffing hi«

* fins, and receiving that abfolution which he knew, he

* had one in his houfe dul^fc authorifed to give him ? He
*. will feel the want of thefe neceffaries when it is too jate.
*i When he is arrived in that place where thei*e is wail-'
*' ing and gnafhing of teeth, it is then he will find in

* what mighty fteM that Heathen goddcfs, that virtue!

* which you and all other Deifts of the age adore, Will'

* ft and him He will then ftimmon his prieft when there

* is none to be found, and will lament the want 'g^4hat

* abfolution, without which no fmner can be fafe;';- 0>*:lf

* it be fo material,' fays Square, * why don't YOu^9(^{i||

* it him of your own accord :' * It. hath no virtue>*f^^
Thwackum, < but to thofe who have fuificient gftUX^
' require it. 3ut why do 1 u\k \ivMs \q a Heat1telM|ii^

-A^-',

Chap. 8. FOUNDLING. lot

< an unbeliever ? It is you that taught him thU lefTon^ for

* which you have been well rewarded in this world, as I

* doubt not your difciple will foon be in the other.' * t

* know not what you mean by reward,' faid Squarf, • but

* if you hint at that pitiful memorial of our friendfhip,

* which he hath thought fit to bequeath me, I defpife it ;

* and nothing but the unfortunate fituation of* my citcum-*

* ftances ftiould prevail on mc to accept of it.'

The phyfician now arrived, and began to inquire of the
two difputants, how we all did above ttairs ? * In a mifer-
« able way,' anfwered Thwackum. * It is po more thant

* I expelled,' crie^ the doAor : < but pray what fymptoms

* have appeared fince I left you ?* * No good ones, I am

< afraid,' replied Thwackum ; * after what paft at ourde-

< parture, I think there were little hopes.' The bo-j
dily phyfician, perhaps, mifunderftood the curer of fouls^
and before they came to an explanation, Mr Blifil came to
them with a moft melancholy countenance, and acquainted
them, that he brought fad news^ for that his mother was
dead at Salifl)ury : that fhe had been feiized on the road
home with the gout in her head and llomach, which had
carried her off in a few hours. * Good-lack-a-day,' fays
the doflor, * One cannot anfwer for events r bu^ I wifti t

< had been at hand to have been called in. The g^ut is a

< diftemper which it is difficulty to treat ; yet I have

* been remarkroly fuccefsful in it.' Thwackum and Square
both condoled with Mr Blifil for the lofs of his mother^
fvhich the ona advifcd him to bear like a man, and^ the o-
the like a Chriftian. The young gentleman faid, he knew
very well we were all mortal, and he would endeavour tO'
fubmit to his lofs as well. as he could. That he could not^
however, help complaining a little againft the peculiar ft-

• verity of his fate, which brought the news of fo great a.
calamity to him by fui-prife, and that at a time when he
hourly ex-pe6lcd the fevereft blow he was capable of feel-
ing from the malice of Fortune. He faid, the prefent oc-
casion would put to the teft thofe excellent rudiments which
^ had learned from Mr Thwackum and Mr Square, and it

• t^ttld be entirely owing to them, if he was enabled to fur-
'^nawc fuch misfprtunes.

•f . Xt was now debated whether Mr All worthy fhould be
liformcd of the death of his filler ; this ths. d^^\ hW
Yt,t,L ' T . •

?4»r tad rc<^-

^ ^M^f^ldtt^i for fear of the difquic-

^'^'a^S^' that he durft not think of

jS^^uJl^if f^'^S]^^ ^^ ^^^ confcquence. He

A''JJ/^''''**^'^/»^^V^"K the religious and philofo-

/^ ^ff pt€hcti^^°^^' ^ He was therefore refolvcd to
a^^%^ ?to h^i^ ' ^^^ ^^ l^is uncle recovered (aa he
^^'^^^^ /je might) he knew he would never for-
f^t^ffj^ovcr to keep a fecrct of this kind from him.
^^ty$mti was forced to fubmit to thefe refolutions,
v^t/^^j^o other learned gentlemen very highly com-
ji So together moved Mr Blifil and the dodtor to-
^^^'^^^c'^ck-room : where the phyfician firil entered, and
!j^ciied the bed, in order to feel his patient's pulfe,
'^fcij fc^ ^^ "^ fooner done, than he declared he was
^li bettfer ; thAt the laft application had fucceeded to a
^ji^citf ^<^ }^^^ brought the fever to intermit: fo that
i^.'fj^di there aj^eared now to be as littie danger as he
^^ before apprehended there tverc hopes.
f ^*o fay the truth, Mr Allworthy's fituation had never
hccn fo bad, as the great caution of the dodlor had repre-
.^ted: but as a wife general never dcfpifes his enemy,
Jioiwever inferior that enemy's force ma)r be, fo neither
does a wife 'phyfician ever defpife a diiiemper, iiowevcifv
inconfiderable. As the former preferves the fame ilrift
difcipline, places the fame guards, employs the fame fcouts,
though the enemy be never fo weak ; fo the latter main-
tains the fame gravity of countenance, and fhakes his Head
with the fame lignificant air, let the dillemper be never (o-
trifling : and -both, among many other good ones, may
aflign this folid reafoh for their condudt, that by thieft
means the greater jglory redounds to them if they gain.t|^
victory, and the leTs difgrace, if by any unlucky accideii'
they Ihould happcp to be conquered.

Mr All worthy had no iboner lifted up his cyt
thanked Heaven for thefe hopes of his recovery,
Plifd drew near, with a very dejcdled afpc6l ;
^ying applied his handkerchief to his- eye, cither to ym

r.*'

^ '^^^

ap. p. F O U N D L I N G. 203

way hi3 tears, or to do, as Ovid fome where exprefles him-?
felf on another occafion.

Si nidlus erit^ tamen excute nullutn ;

- * If there be none, then wipe away that none *J

he communicated to his uncle what the reader hath beert
juil before acquainted with.

Allworthy received the news with concern, with patience^
and with refignation. He dropt a tender tear, then com-
pofed. his countenance, and at laft cried, * ITie Lord's will
* be done in every thing/

He now inquired for the meffenger, but Mr Blifil told
him, it had been impoffible to detain him a moment; for
he appeared, by the great hurry he was in, to have fome
f bufinefs of importance on his hands : that he complained
^ of being hurried, and driven and torn out of his life, and
repeated many times, that if he could divide himfelf into'
four quarters, he knew how to difpofe of every one.

Allworthy then deiired Blifil to take care of the fun?!-
ral. He faid he would have his lifter depofited la his
own chapel ; and as to the particulars he left them to Ku
own difcretion , only mentioning the perfon whom he
would have employed on this occafion.

4 C H A F. IX.

Which y among other things ^ may ferve as a comment on that
■ f'^yf^i ^f J^fihinesy that Drunkenness shews tHE.

MIND OF A Man, as a MlRROUR REFLECTS HI$

?- Person.

THE reader may, perhaps, wonder at hearing nothing
of Mr Jones in the lait chapter. In fad his beha-
\' Viour was fo different from that of the perfons there men-
■fxioned, that we chofc not tp confound tiis name with theirs*
■^ jVlien the good man had ended his fpeech, Jones was
[ ^^^^ft who deferted the room. Thence he retired to his
k^ftili^i'lipartment, to give vent to his concern ; but the reft-
*rtef3 of* hi* mind would not fufiFer him to remain long
re ; he flipped foftly, therefore, to Mr Allworthy's
|^|?nber-door, wheie he liftened a confiderable time with.;
' I ^ ^ T i ■

«04 The HISTORY of i Zookr. \

out hearing any kind of motion within, unlcfs a violent
fnoring, which at laft his fears mifreprefented arf groans.
This fo alarmed him, that he could not forbear entering
the room, where he found the good man in the bed, in a
fweet compofcd ileep, and his nurfe fnoring inthc abovc-
«nentioned hearty manner, at the bed's feet. He immedi- !
ately took the only method of filencing this thorough bafs,
whofe ihufic he feared might difturb Mr Allworthy ; and
then fitting down by the nurfe, he remained motionlefs till
-Blifil and the do6lor came in together, and waked the fick
man. In order that the doAor might feel his pulfe, and
that the other might communicate to him that piece of
ftews which, had Jones been apprifed of it, would have had j
^i-c?. p difficulty of finding its way to Mr Allworthy's ear I
at fuch a feafon. . |

Wlien he firft heard Blifil tell his uncle this flory, Jone*
could hardly contain the wrath which kindled in him at
the other's indlfcretion, efpecially as the doctor (hook his
head, and declared his . unwillingnefs to have the matter
mentioned to his patient. But as his paffion did not fa
far deprive him of all ufe of his underllanding, as to hide
from him the confequences which any violent expreHions
towards Blifil might have on the fick, this apprehenfion
Allied his rage at the prefent ; and he grew afterwards fo
fatisficd with finding that this news had, in /a^, produced
no mifchief, that he fufFered his anger to aie in his owa
bofom, without ever mentioning it to Blifil.

The phyfician dined that day at Mr Allworthy's ; and
having after dinner vifited his patient, he returned to the
company, and told them, that he had now the fatisfeftioa
to fay, with affurance, that his patient was out of all dan-
ger ; that he had brought his fever to a pcrfeft intermif-
iion, and doubted not, by throwing in the bark, to pre-
vent its return.

This account fo pjeafed Jones, and threw him into fuch
immoderate cxccfs of rapture, th^t he might be truly Jfaid
to be drunk with joy ; an intoxication which greatly for-
wards the efFcd of wine ; and as he was very free too with
the bottle on this occafion, (for he drank ms^ny bumpers
to the doAor's health, as well as to other to^ds), hdbfe»:4!^
came very foon literally drunk. ' ^ .».=

Joaea had naturally \\oWt ■amm^ fijiirits : dllil

Chap. ^. r d tr N iJ L I N a 2of

iiigfct on float, arid augmented by the {pint of wine^
produced. moft extravagant effedls. He kiffed the dodor,
and embraced him with the moft paffionate endearments ;
fwearing that, next to Mr Allworthy himfelf, he loved^
him of all men living. « Do£tor/ added he, * you de-

* ferve a itatue to be erefted to you at ttie public ex*-

* pence, for. having preferved a man> who is not only the
^ darling of all good men who know him, but a bleffing to
« focicty, the glory of his country,, and an honour to hui-
^ num nature. D — ^n me if I donH love himr better thaa-

* my own foul.'

« More (hame for you,' cries Thwackumr * though T

* think you have reafon to love him# for he hath provided^

* very well for you. And, perhaps it might haVc beea^

* better for fome folks, that hd^had npt Hvcdto fee juil
** reafon of revoking his gift.' -

Jones now, looking off Thwackum* with ineonceivable-
difdain, anfwcred,> * And doth thy mean foul imagine^
*'• that any fuch confiderations could weigh with me f No,
^' let the earth open and fwallow her own dfrt' (if I had
*' millions of acres I would'' fay it)*tather than fwallow up*
^ my dear glorious friend.'

^i/s dt/iderlo Jtt pudor atit modus
Tanf chart capitis * P <

The doftoT now interpofcd, and prevented the effe(f6?
of a wrath which was kindling, between Jones and Thwac-
k«m ; aft A which th« former gave a loofe to mirth, fang;
two or three amorous fongs, and fell into every frantic dif-
orderwhidbi unbridled joy is apt to infpire; bat fo far waa
fee from any dirpofitioii to quarrd, that he was ten times -
&t^rhunioBre^if pofliWe, than wlien he was fober.

To fay truth, nothing is- more erroneouir^an the
«OmnK>n obfervationj that men who are ill-jbMmred anct

J,. ; ♦' * What modefty or meafure can fet boundBtoour de-^

|g f fire of fo dear a friend !' The word DefideritwAitrt cannot

^^tofily be tranflated. It includes our delire of enjoying qu»^

end again,, and the grief whidv^tUw^^ xioX^^^

t66 The H I S T O R Y of a JBookV:

quarrelfome when they are drunk, are; very worthy perfons
when they are fobcr,: for drink, m reality doth not reverfc
nature, or create paflions in men which did not exift in
them before. It takes away the guard of reafon, and con:-
fequently forces us to produce thofe fymptoms, which
many, when fober, have art enough to conceal. It height-
tens and inflames our paflions, (generally indeed that pa^
Hon which is uppermoft in our mind), fo that the angry
temper, the amorous, the generous, the good-humoured,
the avaricious, and all other difpofitions of meii, are in
-their cups heightened and expofed. *

And yet as no nation produces fo many drunken quar*
rels, efpecially among the lower people, as England^
(for, indeed, with them, to drink and to iig|it together
are almoll fynonymous terms) 5 J would not, methink^,
have it thence concluded, that the Englifh are the worfb-
iratured people alive. Perhaps the love of rlory only k at
the bottom of this ; fo that tlie fair conclufion f^eras t©
be, that our countrymen have more of that love, and more
of bravery, than any other Plebians. And this the rather^
as there is feldom anything ungenerous, unfair, oriil-na*
tured, exercifed on thofe occafions : nay, it is common
for the combatants to exprefs goodwill for each other, even
at the time of the conflidl ; and as their drunken mirth
generally ends in a battle, fo do moll of their battles end
m friendfhip.

But to return to our hiftory. Though Jones had
fhewn no defign of giving offence, yet Mr filifil was high-
ly offended at a behaviour which was fo inconfiftentwith
the fober and prudent rcfcrve of his own temper. He
bore it too with the greater impatience, as it appear? 4
to him very indecent at; this feafon ; 'When,' as jitr feidi

* the houfe was a houfe of mournimg, on the accQUf^ q{

* his deajL-moiher : and if it had pleafed Heaven jtO' 'give

* him fome profpedl of Mr Allworthy's recovery, it,wouW>

* become them better to exprefs the exultations of their ,

* hearts in thankfglving, than in drunkennefs and riots.j

* which were properer methods to incrcafe the divine '

* wrath titan to averts it.' Thwackum, who K^iWal-^^'
lowed more liquor than Jones, but without any iHcfic^frlj
OJ2 his brain, fecoaded the pious harangue of l^lit^c l>%;

.t!hkp. |. FOUND -L I !N G: noj

Square,, for reafoiss; which the reader to&y probably guefsp
was totally filcnt. , •

,Wintf had not fo totally overpowered Jones, as to pre-
vent .his secolledUng.Mr .Bli&l's lofs, the momei^t it waf
mentioned* ^ As no perfon, therefore, was mpre , ready to
confefs and condemn his own errors, he offered to^fliakic
Mr Blifil by: the hand,- and begged his . pardon, - fayii^,
his exceffive joy for Mr Allworthy's recovery had cbriven
every other thought out of his mind. , , ... :

. Blifil . feornfully rejeded his hand ; an,d, with jmach in-
dignation, anfwercd, It was little to be wondered, at, if
tragical fpedacJes made no impreffioii on th.<^, blind; but,
for^his part, he had the misfortune to know who his parent^
were, and confequently muftbe afFejfted with, their lofs. j
Jones, who, notwithftanding his good- humour, ^ad
fome mixture of the irafcible in his conftitution, leaped
haftily from his chair, and catching hold of Blifil's collar,
cried out, * D — n you for a rafcal, do you infult me with
* the nlidforlune of my birth ?' He accompanied thefe
words with fuch rough anions, that they foon got the
better of Mr Blifirs peaceful temper ; and a fcuiHe im-
- mediately enfued, which might basse produced milchief,
had it not been prevented by the iiXterpplitjoHof Thwack-
urn aqd the phyiician,; ^for the philofophy of Square ren-
dered him fuperior to all emotions, anc^ be v^ry calmly
fmoaked his pipe, as was his cuftom in all, broils, unlefs
when he apprehended fome, danger of having it broke in
his mouth.

>-The combatants ^eing now prevented from executing
prefent vengeance on each other, betook themfclves to
the , common refojurces of difap pointed rage, and vt-nted
their wrath in ' threats and defiance. In, this kind ot
cpniiidl:^ fortune,, which in the perfonal attack feemed to
incline to Jones, was now altogether as favourable to his
enemy. ' ^ ; . ,

I A truce, neverthtlefs, was at length agreed on, by the

i mediation of the neutral parties, and the whole company
I again fat down at the table ; where Jones being prevail-
C(l Oil to aflc. pardon, and Blifil to give it^ peace was re-
i Jt'^mdf and every thing feemed mjlatu quo,
^^Uf^i^^ in all appearance, pcr-

'^Jy:'rj^ancUeii> .ihe good l^uaq.oa\: >N\xick \i^ W». W

'i-^Qi^.m*L.

%0S Tht HI STORY of ir . ««A V.

terrupted hf it wai by no meafis rtsftored* ATI mem-
ment was now at an end^ and the fubfequent diibonrfe'
conliiled only of grave relations of matters of h£ty and
of a» grave ob&rvations upon-themv A ^ec^s of con--
verfation in which, though there is ranch of dignity and^
inftrudiony there is but httle entertainment. As we pre*
fumey therefore, to convey only this lad' to the ieader^
we fliall pafe by whatever was-faad, till the i«ftofthr
company having by degrees ckopptd off,; left only Square
and the phyfician together ; at which time the converfa--
tion was a Kttle heightened by fome comments on wha^
bad happened between the two young gentlemen ;• botb
of whom the doftor declared to be no better than fcoun*-
drels ; to which appellation the philofop^r, very iaga-'
cioufly ihaking his head, agreed.

C H A P. X.

Sifnvmg the truth of many obfervattons of Ovfdf and' &f other
more grave nvriters, ivho have proved f. beyond contradi6ihnf
that ^ine is often the ffyre^rtinner of incontmency*-

J One 8 retired from the company in which we have fceoJ
him engaged, into the ifields, where he intended KO*
cool himfelf by a walk in the open air, before he attended^
Mr AUworthy. There, whilft he renewed thofe mecfi--
tations on his dear Sophia, which the dangerous ill nefs of
his friend and benefadtor had for fome time interrupted,^
an accident h^pened, which with forrow we relate, and'
with forrow, doubtlefs, will it be read : however, that*
hiftoric truth to which we profefs^ fo inviolable an attach--
ment, obliges us to communicate it to pofterity.

It was now a pkafant evening in the latter end ol-
Junc ; when our h?ro was walking in a mod delicious^
grove, where the gentle breezes fanning the leaves, to^
gether with the fweet trilling of a murnuiring ftrearo**
and the melodious notes of nightingales, formed akoge>
ther the mofi: inchanting harmony* In this fcene, fo^*
fweetly accommodated to love,' he meditated on his <iea&v;;d
Sophia. While his wanton fancy roved unboimdiii|i^f< ^ ^
a/i her beauties, and his lively imagination p3i^|l|i| ;tt
cbarming oiaid in various twitox^ {orms^

w 'Mi

Chap. lo. FOUNDLING. 209

heart melted with tendernefs, and at length throwing
himfeJf on the gp-ound, hy the fide of a gently murmuring
brook, he broke forth into the following ejaculation.

* O Sophia, would Heaven grwc thee to my arms, how

* bleft would be my condition ! Curft be that fortune

* which fets a di dance between us. Was I but poifcfied

* of thee, one only fuit of rags thy whole eftate, is there

* a man on earth whom I would envy ! How contemp-

* tible would th^brighteft Circaffian beauty, dreft in all

* the Jewels of the Indies, app^r to my eyes ! But v»by

* da I mention another woman ? Could I think my eyes

* capable of looking at any other with tendernefs, tbefe

* hands fhould tear them from my head. No, my Sopfiia^

* if cruel fortune feparates us for ever, my foul (hall doat

* on thee alone. The chafteft conllancy will I ever pre-

* ferve to thy image. Though I fhould never have pof--

* fefGon of thy charming perfon, ftill (halt tRou alone

* have pofTeflion of my thoughts, my love, my foul. C^ !

* my fond heart is fo wrapt in that tender bofom, that

* th% brtghteft beauties would for me have no charms,

* nor would a hermit be colder in their embraces. So-

* phia, Sophia alone /hall be mine. What raptures are

* m that name ! I will engrave it on every tree/

At thefe words he ftarted up, and behold — not his So-
phia — no, nor a Circaffian maid riclily and elegentlr at-
tried for the Grand Signior's feraglio. No ; without a
gown, in a fhift that was fomewhat of the coarfefl, and
none of the cleaneft, bedewed like wife with fome odori-
ferous efflutia, the produce of the day's labour, with a
pitchfork in her hand, Molly Seagrim approached. Our
hero had his pen-knife in his hand, which he had drawn
for the before •mentioned purpofe of carving on the bark,
when the girl coming near him, cry'd out with a fmilc,

* You don't intend to kill me, fquire, I hope !* • Why

* fhould you think I would kill you ?' anfwcrtd Jones,

* Nay,' replied fhe, * after your cruel ufage of me when

* I faw you lafl, killing me would, perhaps, be too great

* kindnefs for me to expeft.'

* Here enfued a parley, which, as I do not think myfelf
^*^*jed to relate it, I (hall omit. It is fufficient that

led a full quarter of an hour, at the conclufiou of
h they retired ittto the thick£& ^^xt o£ >fcft ^w^

W^^

Mt^jn/^^^

210 The H I S T O R Y of a Book V.

Some of my readers may be inclined to think this eveat
unnatural : however, the fadi is true ; and, perhaps, may
be fuificiently accounted for, by fuggelling, that Jones
probably thought one woman better thaa none, and Molly
as probably imagined two men to be better than one. Be-
fides the before-mentioned motive afligned to the prefcnt
behaviour of Jones, the reader will be likewife pleafed to
recoUeft in his favour, that he was not at this time per-
fect matter of that wonderful power of reafon which fo
well enables grave and wife men to fubdue their unruly
paflions, and to decline any of thefe prohibited amufementSk
Wine now had totally fubdued this power in Jones. He
was, indeed, in a condition, in which if reafon had inter-
pofed, though only to advife, fhe might have received the
anfwer which one Cleoftratus gave many years ago to a filly
fellow, who afked him, if he was not afhamed to be drunk ?

* Are not you,' faid Cleoftratus, * afhamed to admohi(k

* a drunk man ?' — To fay the truth, in a court of juftice,
drunken nefs muft not be an excufe, yet in a court of con-
fcience it is greatly fo ; and therefore Arittotlc, who com-
mends the laws of Pittacus, by which drunken men re-
ceived double punifhment for their crimes, allow* there is
more of policy than juftice in that law. Now, if there are
any tranfgreffions pardonable from drunkennefs, they arc
certainly fuch as Mr Jones was at prefent guilty of; on
which head I could pour forth a vaft profufion of learning,
if I imagined it would either entertain my reader, or teach
him any thing more than he knows already. For his fake,
therefore, I (hall keep my learning to myfelf, and return
to my hiftory. -

It hath been obferved, that fortune feldom doth things
by halves. To fay truth, there is no end to her freaks
whenever (he is difpofcd to gratify or difpleafe. No fooner
Jiad our hero retired v^th his Dido, but,

Speluncam BlifiU dux et divinus eandenty
Deveniunt.

the parfon and the young fquire, who were taking a fe-t
rious walk, arrived at the ftyle which leads into the grove
and the latter caught a view of the lovers, juft as they
were finking out of fight. <

EMI kBCw Jones very well, though he was at above i»

:^i^

ttap. II. FOUNDLING. 211

hundred yards diftance ; and he was as pofitivc to the fex.
<xf his companion, thougl^ not to the individual perfon,,
He ftartcd, bleffed himfelf, and uttered a very folemn
ejaculation. '

Thwackum exprefled fome furprife at thefe fudden e-
motions, and alked the reafon of them, To which Bli-.
fil anfwered, he was certain he had feen a fellow and
wench retire together among the buihes, which he doubt-
ed not was with fome wicked purpofe. As- to the name<
of Jones, he thought proper to conceal it, and whf \je did.
fo muft be left to the judgment of the fagacious reader:
for* we never chufe to aiHgii motives to the adlions of menj
when there is any poffibility of our being miftaken.

The parfon, who was not only ftridlly chafte in his own
perfon, bur a great enemy to the oppolite vice in all otliers,
fired at this information. He defired Mr Blifil to coftdudb
him immediately to tlie place, which as he approached, he
breathed forth vengeance mixed with lamentations 5 nor did
he refrain from calling fome oblique reflections on Mr
Allworthy ; infinuating, that the wickednefs of the
country was principally owing to the encouragement he
had given to vice, by havine exerted fuch kindnefs to a
haftard, and by having mitigated that juft and wholefomc
rigour of the law, which allots a veiy fevcre punifhment to
Joofe wenches.

The way through which our hunfters were to pafs in
purfuit of their game, was fo befet with briars, that it
greatly obftru6ted their walk, and caufed, befides, fuch
a ruftling* that Jones had fuf&cient warning of their ar-
rival, before they could furprife. him ; nay, indeed, fo
incapable was Twackum of concealing his indignation»
and fiach vengeance did he mutter forth every ftep he
took^ that this alone muft have abundantly fatlsfied Jonet
ihat he was (to ufe the language of fportfmen) found fitting*

C H A R XL

.In «vjhich ajimile in Mr Pope's period of a miUy introduces
: as bloody a battle as canpoffibly be fought ^without the ajfijl'*
V .fince of Jleel or cold iron,

"P'^ ... «

S in the feafon of Rutting, (an uncouth phrafe, by

which the vulgar denote that gentle daUi^jac^ ^bl<:.V

ttlill'llll

112 The HISTORY of a Book V.

in the wdl -wooded * foreft of Hampfhire, paiTcs between
lovers of tiie ferine kind) iU while the lofty ^crefted ftag
ineditates the amorous fport» a couple of puppies, or any
odier beafts of hoftile note, fhould wander fo near the
temple of Venus Fcrina, that the fair hind fhould fhrink
from the place, touched with that fomewhat, either of
fear or frolic, of nicety or flcittiihnefs, with which Na-
ture hath bedecked all females, or hath, at lead, inflru^i:-^/
ed them how to put it on ; left, through the indelicacy
q£ m^d^, the Samian myileries (hould be pried into by
unhallowed eyes : for, at ^e celebration of thefe rites,
the female prieftefa cries out with her in Virgil, (who wait
then, probably, hard at work on fuch celebration),

» Proculy proculejle^ profani ;
Prodamat Vatesj totoque ahjijlite luco.

« Far hence he fouls prophane^

The Sibii crfd^ and from the grove ahfiain.

If, I fay, while thefe facred rites, which Are in com-
mon to genus omne antifnantiumy are in agitation between
the ftag and his miftrefs, any hoftile beafts fhould venture
too near, on the firft hint given by the frighted hind,
fierce and tremenduoas rufhes forth the ftag to the en-
trance of the thicket ; there ftands he centinel over his
love, ftamps the ground with his foot, and with his horns
brandifhed aloft m the air, proudly provokes the appre*
bended foe jto combat.

Thus, and more terrible, when he perceived the ene-
my's approach, leaped forth our hero. Many a ftep ad-
vanced he forwards, in order to conceal the trembling,
hind, and, if poflible, to fecure her retreat. And now
Thwackum, having firft darted fome livid lightening
from his fiery eyes, began to thunder forth. * Fy upon

* it ! Fy upon it ! Mr Jones : is it pofTible you fhould

* be the perfon I' * You fee,' anfwered Jones, * it is pof-
« fible I fhould be here.* * And who,* faid Twackum

•* is that wicked flut with you V * If I have any wicked

* This is an ambiguous phrafe, and may mean either a foreft
•reJIcioathedwithwood, orwellftriptofit, ■-. 4^

aCkap. 'II. FOUNDLING. 2?5

-^ (hit with me/ cries Jones, * it is poflible I {hall not

* let you know who fhe is/ ' I command you to toll
** me immediately,' fays Thwackum ; * and I would not

* have you imagine, young man, that ^'Dur age, though
** it hath fomewhat abridged the purpofe of tuition, hath

* tolally taken away the authority of the matter. The

* relation of the mailer and fcholar is indelible, as, in-
'* deed, all other relations are : for they all derive their
•* original from Heaven. I would have you think youf-
^* felt, therefore, as much obliged to obey me flow, as
*< when I taught you your drib rudiments.' * I believe
•* you would,' cries Jones ; ^ but that will not happen^
** unlcfe you had the fame birchen argument to convince
♦* me.* * Then I muft: tell you plainly,* faid Thwackum^
•* I am refoft^^ to difcpver the wicked wretch.' * And T
** mull tell you plainly,' returned Jones, * I am refolved
^ you (hall not.' Thwackum then offered to advance^
^nd Jones laid hold of his arms ; which Mr Blifil endea-
soured to refcue, declaring * he would not fee his oldf

* mailer infulted:^

Jones now findiqg himfelf engaged with two, thought
nt neceffary.to rid himfelf of one af his antagonills as fooa-
as poflible. He therefore applied to the weakeft firll ;:
•and letting the parfon go, he diredled a blow at the young
Squire's breall, which luckily taking place, reduced him
ito raeafure his length on the ground.

Thwackum was fo intent on the difcovery, that the
jfnoment he found himfelf at liberty, he flepped forward
dire^lly into the fern, without any great conlideratian of
what might, in the mean time,, befal liis friend ; but he
,' had advanced a very few paces into the thicket, before
Jones, having defeated Blihl, overtook the parfoa, and
dragged him backward by the Hurt of his coat.

This parfon had been a champion in his youth, and had

Jiron much honour by his lift, both at Cchool and at the

:4iniverfity. He had now, indeed, for a great number of

years, declined the pradlice of that noble art ; yet was."

^^Ais courage full as itrong as his faith, and his body no

l^ds ftrong than either. He was, moreover, as the rea-

may, perhaps, have conceived, fomewhat irafclble m

feature. When he looked back, therefore, and faw

^ .li^end ftretchcd out on the ground^ ^.wd iavjcwiVjccn^s^

^ '''^^'^

\h^^*^ ■ ■

#f. -. ,

ii4 The H I 5 T O R- Y of a ^odk V.

at the fame time fo roughly handled by one who hadfory
jnerly been only pafiive in ^1 conilifts between them, (^
circumftance which highly agravated the whole), his pa-
tience at length gave way ; he threw himfirlf.into a pofture
of defence, and colle6ling all his force, attacked Jones in
the front, with « as much impetuofity as he had formerly
attacked him in the rear. ' *

Our. hero received the enemy's attack with the moft
undaunted intrepidity, and his bofom refojinded with the
blow. This b^ preiently returned with no lefs violence^
.aiming likewife at the parfon's breaft ; but he dexteroufly
drove down the fift of Jones, fo that it r^ched only his
belly, where two pounds of beef, and as many of pudding,
were then depofitedi and whence, confequ'ently, no hol-
low found could proceed. Many Iwfty blows, much more
Ppleafant as well as eafy to have feen, than to read or de-
fcribe, were given on both fides ; at laft a violent fall, iu
which Jones had thrown bis knees into Thwackum's
fcreaft, fo weakened the -latter, that vicjtory had been no
longer dubious, had not Blifil, who had now recovered
his llrength again, renewed the fight, and, by engaging
^vith'Jones, given the parfon a moment's time to (hake his
cars, and to regain his breath.

V And now both together attacked our hero, whofeblow?
did not retain th^t force with which they had fallen at
firft ; fo weakened was he by his combat with Thwackum$
for though tlie pedagogue cliofe rather to play folos on
.the human inftrument, and had been lately uled to thofe
•only, yet he dill retained enough of his ancient knowledge
to perform his part very well in a duet.

The vi6tory, according to modern euftom, was like to
Jdc decided by numbers,' when on ;a fudden, a fourth pair
of lills appeared in the battle, and immediately paid their
[compliments to the patibn : and the owner of them, at
the lame time, crying out, * A r^ you -not afhamed, and be
* d- — n'd to you, to tall two of you upon ore V

The b&ttle, which was of the kind that, for d^OC"
tion's fake, is called Royal, now raged with thf i
violence during a few minutes; till Biilil, beings
.time laid fpravvlmg by Jones, Thwackum condew^
sj^ply lor quailrer to his new antagonift, whay

0iap. w. F O UN ]> L I N G.' US'

In fa6l, that honed fquire, happening in his afternoon's'
walk \tith fome company to pafs through the field where
•the bloody battle way fought, and having concluded, from
feeing three men engaged, that two of them muft be on-
one fide, he haftened from his companions, and with more
gallantry than policy, efpoufed the caufe of the weaker
party ; by which generous proceeding, he very probably
prevented' Mr Jones from becoming a victim to the wrath*
crf'Thwackum, and to the pious frienddrip which Blifil bore
his old mafter : for befides the difad vantage of fuch odds;^
Jones had not yet fufficiently recovered the former llrehgth-
of his broken arm. This reinforcement, however, foon put'
an end to thcaAion,- and^ Jones- with his ally, obtained rfie"
vi6lory*_^

C H A P. XII.

/« 'ivl}Ic/) if feen a more moving fpe&acle than all the hlooi'
in the bodies of Th^iuackutn and Blifil y a/id af tnjjenty other^
fuchy is .capable of producingi ?

TH E reft of Mr Weilern's company^ were now com^
up, being jufl: at the inilant when the action was
dyer. Thefe were, the hpnefl clergyman whom we have
formerly feen at Mr Weftern's table, Mrs Weflern, the
aunt of Sophia* and, laftly, the lovely Sophia herfclf.

At this time the following was the aipecl of the bloody
field. In one place lay on the ground, all pale and almofl:
Srcathiefs, the vanquiihed Blifil. Near him flood the con-
queror Jpnes, almoll xrovered with blood, part of which was
naturally his own, and part had been lately the property of
the Rev. Mr Thwackum. In a third place itood thefaid
. Thwackum, like King Porus, fullenly. fubmkting to the
^conqueror.. The laft figure in the piece was Weltern the
Great, jmoft glorioufly forbearing the vanquiihed foe.
!; Blifil, in whom there was little fign of life, was at-
l^ft the principal obje(fl of the concern of every one, and-
rticularly of Mrs Weftern, who had drawn from her
fcket a. bottle of harts-horn, and was herfelf about ta'
ly it to his noflrils, when ou ^.C\xdd^u\ii^'^\.^\^>^'^*

2i6 The H I S T O R Y of a Book V-

. ef the whole company was diverted from poor-Blifilwhofc
Ipirit, if it had any fuch defign, might have now taken an?
opportunity of ftealing off to the other world, without any
ceremony.

For now a more melancholy and a more lovely objeft .
Jay motionlefs before them. Thia was no other than the^
charming Sophia herfelf, who, from the fight of blood, or*
from fear 'of her father or from fome other reafon, had
fallen down m a fwoon, before any one could get to her
J f finance.

Mrs Weflern firll faw her, and fcreamed. Immediate-
ly two or three voices cried out, Mifs Weftem is dead^
liarts-horn, water, every remedy was called for, almoft at
one and the fame inflsnt. ^

%ht reader m^y remember, that in our defcription of
this grove, we mentioned a murmuring brook which brook.
did not come*there, as fuch -gentle ftrcams flow through^
vulgar romances, with no other purpofe. than to murmur..-
No ; Fortune had decreed to ennoble this little brook with-
a higher honour than any of thofe which ivafh the plains-
of Arcadia^ ever defer ved.

Jopfs was rubbitig BlifiPs temples ; for he began to
fear he had' given him a blow too much, when the words
Mifs Weftern, .and dead, rufhed. at once on his ear. He
ftarted up, left Bliiil to his fate, and flew to Sophia, whom,^
while all the reft were running againft each other back-
ward sivA forward, looking for water in the dry paths, he-
caught up in his arms, and then ran away with her over thc^. '
iitld to the rivulet above-mentioned ; Where, plunging him-
felf into the water, he contrived to befprinkle her face,-'
head, and neck, very plentifully. ,

Happy wa&it for Sophia, that the fame confufion which *
prevented her other friends from ferving her, prevented"
them likewife from obfl:ru6iing Jones. He had carried"
lier half-way before they knew what he was doing, and:i
had a6lually reftored her to life before they reached the •
tvater-fide : flie fl:retched out her arms^ opened her eyes,:^
snd cried, ' Oh Heavensl' juft as her father, aunt, andl ^
the parfon, came up.

Jones, who had hitherto held this lovely burthen 'iiti^
his nrms, now relinquiflied his hold; but gave *
thct ikme uiftaat a tender catefa, >K\i\dvvVv^ hcr^

C&ap.

12,

r^ O if N D LING.. 217

been then ptnfedly reftored, could not have efcaped \\^
obfervation. As (he exprefled, therefore no difpleafurc
at this freedom, we fuppofe fhe was not fufficiently re*
covered from her fwoon at the timei

This tragical fcene was now converted into a fudden *
fcene of joy. In this our hero was, moft certainly, the
principal chara<Eler : for as he pro|5ably felt more exta-
tic delight in having fa ved Sophia, then fhe herfelf re-
ceived from being faved, fo neither were the congratula-
tions paid to her equal to what were conferred on Jones,
cfpecially by Mr VVeftern himfelf, who, after having'
once or twice embraced his daughter, fell to 'hugging.:
and kiflihg Jones. He- called him the preferver of So-
phia, and declared there was nothing except her, or^hia
cftate, which he would not give him ; but, upon recbl-
leftion, he afterwards excepted his fox-hounds, the die-
valier, and Mifs Slouch, (for fo he called 'his favourite
mare.)

All fears for Sophia bein? now removed, Jones became
the objed of the fquIre'sconUderation. * Come, my lad,*
fay^ Wedern, * Do'ofF thy quoat and wafh thy feace : for

* 'art in 3 devilifh pickle, I promife thee. Corfie^ come»

* 'wafh, tbgrfelf, and (hat go houme with me, and well zee '

* to find thee anotlier quoa^.'

Jones immedlataly complied, threw off his coat, went
down to the water, and wafhed both his face an4 his bo-
fom ; for the letter was as much expofed aflii as bloody
as the former : but though the water could clear off the
blood, it could not remove the black and blue mctrks which
Thwackum had imprinted on both his face and bread,
and which,, being difeerned by Sjphia, drew from her a
fi^, and a look full of incxprefrihle tendernefs.

Jones received this in fall in his eyes, and it had infi-
nttely a ftronger effedl on him than all the contufion*
which he had received before. Ail efle<Sl, however,
widely different; for fo foft and balmy was it, that had
att his former blows been ilabs, it would for ibme minutes
' fiil^e prevented his feeling their fmart,
J* ; The company now moved backwards, and food arri-^

^where Thwackum hadgot Mr Blifil aofain on his Ieg3» -

ijbi we cannot fupprefs a pious wiili, that all quarrels
M^rto- be 4ecidcd- by thofe wt7^^^\iv ^'^^'^ j^^^ n^W^^

2i5 "The HISTORY ofa BoofeVt

Nature, knowing what is proper for us, hath fupflied^
U8 ; and that coId4ron was to be ufed in digging no bowels
but thofe of the earth. Then would war, the paftimc-
of monarchy, be almolt inofFeiifive, and battles between
great armies might be fought at the particular defire of
ieveral ladies of quality ; who, together with the kings
themfelves, might be adhial fpe^ftators of the confliS^.
Then might the field be this moment well ftrewed with
Imman carcafTes, and the next, the dead men, or infinitely
the grcatefl part of them, might get up, like Mr Bayes's
troops, and march off, either at th^ found ofa drum or-
fkldle, as fhould be previoufly agreed on.
, I would avoid, if poflible, treating this matter ludi-*.
<TOufly, left grave men and politicians, whom I knowtc
])e offended at a jeft, may cry pifh at it; but, in re^ity,-
jnight not a battle be as well decidedby the greater num-
])er of broken heads, bloody nofc8> and black eyes, as by
the greater heaps of mangled and murdered human.bodies V-
jMighc not towns be contended for in the fame manner?
Indeed this^ may be thought too detriment^h a fchcme to-
the French ihtereft, fince they would thus Jefe the adv|p-
ixige they liave over otKer nations m the/uperiority of their
engineers : but when I confider the gallantry an^ genero-
fity of that people, I am perfuaded ihey would never dc-
«Kne putting themfelves upon a par with their adveifary,;
cr, a.»the phrafe is^ making themfelves his match.

• But' fiicl^jjfcefontTiations are rather to- be wi died than*
hoped far: I flial] content myfelf,. thei'cfore, with this*
fiiort hiirt;: a«d return to my narrative.

Weftcrn began now to inquire into the original' rife
©f ibis, quarrel ; to which neither Blifil nor Jones gave"
any anfwer : but Thwackum faid furlily, *• I believe the

< caufe is not far off r if you beat the bufhos well you

• rtiay find her.' «• Find- her P replied Weftern, . * whatj
« Kave you been, fighting for awench ?*' * Ail< (he gentle*

* man in his waitlcoat there,' faid Tawackum, « h^ beft
hnov/8>.' * Nay, then,' cries Wcftern, * it is a wcoA

* certainly — Ah, Tom, Tom, thou art a liquoriftp^Djt*,

< — but com«y, gentlemen, be all friendsj . and w- bciBi*
*" with me, and make final peace over a bottle.,*' ^a"

your pardon. Sir,' fays- Thwackum, < it W M."^

■'•>*,,

^jS

5. 12. F U N D L I N G. 2t^'

ijht matter for a man of my chara6ler to be thus in-
rioufly treated and buffetted by a boy, only becaufe I
)uhl have done my duty, in endeavouring to ndeteft
d bring to juftice a wanton harlot : but, mdeed, the
incipal fault lies in Mr Allworthy and yourfelf : for
you put the laws in' execution as you ought to do,
u will foon rid the country of thefe vermin.'
I would' as foon rid the country of foxes,' cries AVefti-
* I think we ought to encourage the recruiting thofc
imbers which we are evci-y day lofing in the war.

lit where is fhe ?' Prithee, Tom, (hew* me.* He

1 began to beat about, in the {ame language, and in

fame manner, as if he had been beating about for a
?, and at laft cried out, • Soho ! pufs is not far off.
[ere's her* form, up6n my foul ; I believe I may cry,
)1eaway7' And indeed fo he might, for he had now
3vered the place, whence the poor girl had, at the ,
inning of the fray, flolen away, upon as many feet as
ire generally ufes in travelling,
ophia now defired her father to return home, faying,

found' hvrfelf vepy faint, and apprehended a reiapie.
J fquire immediately complied with.his daughter's re-
[l, (for he was the fondeft of parents.) He eameftly
savoured to prevail with the whole company to pjo

fup with him ; but Blifil and Thwackum abfohitely
ifed ; the former faying, there were more rcafons than
could then mention why he muft declii^^his honour;

the latter declaring, (perhaps rightly), that it was

proper for a perfon of his fundlion to be feen at any
:e in his prefent condition.

ones was incapable of refufing the pleafure of being
li his Sophia. ' So on- he marched with Squire Weft-

and his ladies, the parfon bringing up the rear. This
[, indeed, offered to tarry with his brother Thwackum,
•felling his regard for the cloth would not permit him
de|)art'; but Thwackum would not accept the favour,
I with no great civility pufhed him after Mr Weflern.
Fhus ended this bloody fray y and thus fhall end the
h book of this hiftory.

.-H.;

T k r *

H I St 6 R T

O F A'

F O U N D L I N G^

• BO o K vr.:

. Gontaimng about three wecks#-

CHAR L

Of Love.

IN our laft book we have been- obliged to deal pfetit/'
much with the paffion of love ; and in our fucceeding t
book (hall be forced to handle this fubjeft ftill more large-
ly. It may not, therefore, in this place, be improper to •
apply ourfelves to the examination of that modem dodtrlney-'
' by which certain philofophers, among many other wonder-
ful difcoveri«|rpretend to have found out, that there is no •
fuch paffion in the human breaft.

Whether thefc philofophers be the fame with that fur- •
prifing fe6l, who are honourably mentioned by the* late ''
Dr Swift, as having, by the mere force of genius alone, r
without the leaft affiftance of any kii?d of learning, or"
even reading, difcovered that profound and invaluable",
' fecret, that there is no God ; or- whether they are not ra^ '
• ther the fame with thofe who, fome years^ fince, ' veryi
much alarmed the world, bj^ fhewing that' there were no-
fuch things as virttie or goodnefs really exiftipg in. human j * ,'
nature, and who deduced our beft aftions from pridt^ fu-
. will not here prefume to determine. In reality,., I, am.'V^«
inclined to fufpe6t, that all thefe feveral finders of
Sire the very identical men, who are by others ca "
£nders of gold. The method ufedlxv both thefc
^^s&er truth and after gQUbm^Vud^^d QTv.^^si.^^^JSft;^isbfe^^

■;"

thap. r. F O U N D L I NO. itt

viz. the fearching, rummaging, and examining into z
tiafty place ; indeed, in the former inftanccs, into the
naftieftof all places, A bad mind.

But though in this particular, and perhaps in their fuc-
cefs, the truth -finder and the gold-finder may very properly
be compared together, yet in modefty, fuVely, there can^
be no comparifon between the two : for who ever heard of
a gold-finder that had the impudence or folly to afTert,
from the ill fuccefs of his fearch, that there was no fuch
thing as gold in the world ; whereas the truth-finder,
haying raked out that jakes, his own mind,*and being
there capable of tracing no ray of divinity, nor any thing
■virtuous, or good, . or lovely, or loving, very fairly,
honeftly, and logically concludes, that no iuch tilings exift
in the whole creation.

To avoid, however, all contention, if poflible, witK
thefe philofophers, if they vnVi be called fo, and to fhew
our own"" difpofition to ' accommodate matters peaceably
between us, we fhall here make them fome concefUbns^-,
which may poflibly put an end to the difpute.

Firft, We will grant that many minds, and perhapi
thofe.of the philofophers, are entirely free from the leaft
traces of fuch a paflion.

Secondly, That whijt is commonly called love, name-
ly, the dcfire of fatisfying a voradous appetite witli a
certain quantity of delicate white hirman fii^ is by no
means that paffion for which I here cont^ro. This is
indeed more properly hunger ; and as no glutton is a-
fliamed to apply the word love to his appetite, and to fay
he LOVES fuch and fuch difhes, fo may the lover of thift
kind, with equal propriety fay, he hung£RS after fuck
and fuch women.

Thirdly, I will grant, which I believe will be a moft
acceptable conceflion, that this love for which I am an
advocate, though it fatisfics itfelf in a much more deli-
cate manner, doth neverthlefs feek iis own fatisfadtion
ajmuctas thegroflcft of all our appetites*
And, laftly, that ' this love, when it operates towards
ooc of a. different fex, is very apt, towards its con plete *

Eitification, to call in the aid of that hunger vhich I
ve mentioned above ; and which it is fo far from aba*-
tllDg,. that it. heightens all iti dcU^U to v^^^^^ ^sasw^

22i The HISTORY o£ a BookVI^

imaginable by thofc who have never been' fufceptiblc o£*
any other emotions than what have proceeded from ap?-
petite alone.

. In return to all thefe conceflions, I defire of the philo-'
fopliers .to grant, that there is in fome (I believe in ma-
ny) iiuman breads, a kind and benevolent difpofition/
•which is gratiikd by contributing to the happinefs of j
others.' That in this gratification alone, as in friendfhip, . J
in parental and filial affeAion, and indeed in general phi-,
lanthropy, ^here is a great and exquifite delight. That
if we will not call fuch a difpofition love, we have no
name for it. That though the pleaiiires ^rifing froni.
Juch pure love may be heigtened and fweetened by the
afliilance of amorous defires, yet the former can fubfiftr.
alone, nor are they deftroyed by the intervention of the
latter. Laftly, that e^eem and gratitude are the proper
anotives to love, a«' youth and beauty are to defire : and
therefore though fuch defire may naturally ceafe, when
age or fickneis overtakes its objeft ; y_et thefe can have
BO efiedl on love, nor ever fhake or remove from a good;
mind thalgrfenfation or palHon which hath gratitude and ^
^ cAeem for its bafis.

To deny the exiftenfce of a paflion of which we often«'
fee manifell inftances, feems to be very ftrange asd ab-'
furd ; and can indeed proceed onjy from that felf-admo-f
nition which we have n^entioned above. But how unfair
is this ? D^l the man^ who recognizes in his heart no'
traces of avarice or ambition, conclude therefore that
there are no fuch paifions in human nature ? Why. will wc
not mode ft ly obferve the fame rule in judging of the
good,, as well as the evil of others? Or why, in any cafe,*,
will we, as Shakefpeare phrafes it, * put the world in our-
• own perfon ?'

Predominant vanity, is, I am afraid, too much concern-^'
ed here. This is one inftatice of that adulation whic^
we beftcv^ on our own minds, and this almoll univerfally,-
For there is fcarce any man,^ how much foever he may,
defpife the charadcr of a flatterer, but will coiidefcen4|^
in the meaneft manner to flatter himfelf. , 'W

To thofe, therefore, I apply for the truth of the .abovc%
obicrrations, whofe own minds can bear teftioioDj. t<"*
irAat I have advanced.^ •

Uhap. 2.' F O U N D L 1 N G. ^25

Examine your heart, my good reader, and refblve.whe-
•ther you do believe thefe matters with me. If you do>
you may now proceed to their exemplification in the folp
lowing pages ; if you do not, you have, I aflure you^Jff^
feady read niore than yoM have underftood ; and it ijRld
be wiferto purfue your biifinefs, or^your pleafures, (fuch
as they are), than to throw away aay more of ypur time

• in reading what you can neither tafte nor comprehend.
To treat of the effeAs of love to you, muft be as abfurd

/ as to difcourfc on colours to a man born blind ; fince pof-
libly your idea of love may be as abfurd as that which wc
are told a blind.man once entertained of the colour fcarlet :
vthat colour fecraedto him to be v^y much like the found of
v.a trumpet ; and love probably may, in your opinion, very
.greatly rcfemble a dim of foup, or a firlein of roall-becf*

e H A P. II.

^he charafler of Mrs Wejlern, Her great learning and
knonuledge of the *vjorldy and an inftance^L the deep /<?•
net rat tin ^hichjlje derived from thofe advamlffff,

TH E reader hath feen Mr Wellem, his filler and
daughter, with young Jones and the parfon, go-
Hig together to Mr Wellern's houfe, where the greater
part of the company fpent the evening with much joy and
ieftivity. Sophia was indeed the only gravwB[5erfon : for
. ^s to Jones, though love had now gotten entire poffeilion
" of his heart, yet the pjeafing refledlion on Mr Allworthy's
recovery, and the prefence of his miftrefs, joined to fome
tender looks which fhe pow ahd then could not refirain
from giving him, fo elevated our hero, that he joined the
^irth of the other three, who were perhaps as good-hu-
moured people as any in the world.

Sophia retained ,lthe fame gravity of countenance the

* next morning ^at breakfaft ; whence (he retired likewife
earlier than ufual> leaving her father and aunt together.

iThe fquire took.no notice of this change in his daugh-
; **ter'8 difpofitiqn. To fay the truth, though he was fome-

'what of a politician, and had been twice a candidate in
-^^i£ country -inttreft at an eledlion, he was a man of no

jgreat bbfervation. His filler yf^% "^ Va.^^ qI ^ ^>Ss.\^^?x

i24 The H I S T O R Y of « .JBook VI.

turn. She had lived about the .court, and had feen the
world. Hence fhe had acquired all that knowledge which
the faid world ufually communicates ; and was a perfed. j
il^refs of manners, cuftoms, ceremonies, and fefliions. ]
]Sdl^^did her erudition Hop here. She had confidcrably
improved her mind by fludy ; fhe-had not only read all
the modern plays, operas, oratories, poems, and ro-
mances, in all which flae was a critic ; but had gone
through Rapia's Hiilory of England, Eachard's Roman
Hiftory, and many French Memoirs pour fervir a Pk^orie;
to thefe fhe had added moft-ofthe political pamphlets^
^nd journals, publiflied within the laft twenty years ; from
which fhe hjJd attained a very competent fklll in politics,
and. could difcourfe very learnedly oa thcafFairs of Europe.,
She was moreover excellently well fkilled in the doArinc
of amour, and knevi^ bet$«iiilhan any body who and who
were together : a, knowlcdgeVhi^h fhe the more eafily
attained, as her purfuit orit was never diverted by any
^iffairs of her own ; for either fhe had no- incliaiations^ or
they had n ever been folicited ; v^^hich laft is £n4eed'very_
probablej|£flKier mai^uline perfon, which was n^ar fix
feet higl^added to her manner and learning, pofCbly-

freventedthe other fex fi*om regarding her, notwithftandiug
er petticoats, in the light of a woman. However, ?j^.
file had confidered the matter fcientifically, flie perfedllyi^'
well knew, though fhe had never pradifed them, all the
arts which fii^ladies ufe when they defire to give encourage-
ment, or to conceal liking, with all the long appendage of
fmiles, ogles, glances, (be. as they are at prcfent praSifcdl
in the beau monde. To fum the whole, no fpecies of dif^
guife or afTe^latlon had efcaped her notice; but as to the
plain fjmple workings 6f honeft nature, as fhe had never!
leen any fuch, fhe could know but little of them. I

By means of this wonderful fagacity, Mrs Weftern-hadi
now, as fhe thought, made a diTcovery of fomething in]
the mind of Sophia. TheHrft hint 6f this fhe took from
the behaviour of the young lady in the field of battle : and
the fufpicion which fhe then conceived, was greatly corJ
roborated by fome obfervations which fhe had made .that
evening and the 4iext morning. ' However, being greatl)
cmtlou$ to avoid being found in a miilake^ fhq. currie

ehap. 2. FOUND LI N-G, , I2j

the fecret a whok fortnight m her bofomy giymg only fome
abliqiie hints, by fimperings, winks, nods, and row and
then dropping an obfcurc word, which indeed fufficiently
ilarmed Sophia, but did not at all afFedl her brother.

Being at length, however, thoroughly fatisfied of the
Tuth of her obfervation, (he took an opportunity, one
Horning, wben (he was alone with her brother, to inter-
rupt one of his whillles in the following manner.

* Pray, brother, have you not obferved fomething very
' extraordinary in ray niece lately ^' No> not I,' an-
fwered Wellern ; * is any thing the matter with the girl ^
' I think the?e is, replies (he, * and fomething of muck
^ confequencc too.' * Why, (he doth not complain of a-
^ ny thing,' cries Weftern ; * and (he hath had the fmall-
^ pox.' * Brother,' returned (be, * girls are liable to o-

* ther diftempers befides the fmall-pox, and fometimes

* poffibly to much worle.' Here Weftern interrupted her
pjTith much earneftnefs, and begged her, if any thing ail-
id his daughter, to acquaint him immediately ; adding^
She knew he loved her more than his own jbuJ, and that
le would fend to the world's end for the b?ff jij^lician tO"
ler. * Nay, nay,' anfwered (he, fmiling, * the diftem-
f per is not fo terrible ; but, I believe, brother, you are
^ convinced I know the world, and I promife you, I was
' never more deceived in my life, if my niece bq not molt
' defperately in love.' * How, in love !' cries Weftern, in a
paftion, * in love without acquainting me !*I'll difiqjie-
' rit her ; Pll turn her out of doors, ftark naked, with-
\ out a farthing. Is all my kindnefs vor 'ur, and vond-

* nefs o* ur come to this, to fall in love without afldng
^ me leave !' * But you will not,' anfwered Mrs Weftern^
' turn this daughter, whom you love better tlian your
f own foul, out of doors, before you know whether you
^ (hall approve her choice. Suppofe (he (liould have fix-
' 'ed on the very perfon whom you yourfelf would wifh, I
^' hope you would not be angry then.' ' No., no,'' cries
Weftern, * that would make a difference. If (lie mar-
t ries the man I would ha' her, (he may love whom (he
^ pleafcs, I (han't trouble my head about that ' * That
\h fpoken,' anfwered the fifter, * lik* a fenfible man ; but
l^il believe the very perfon (he hath chofen, would be the
I very perfon you would chufe for Uttx* \^*^ ^v^^-jkva^.

Vol. I. 4 X

'tiS The- H I S T O R Y of a Book VI.

* all knowledge of the world if it is not fo ; and, I be- «

* lieve, brother, you will allow I have fome.* * Why,

' Ibokee, filler,** faid Wieftern, * I do believe you have as i

* pnich as any woman ; and, to be fure, thofe are wo-

* iTien's matters. You know i don't love to hear you ,

* talk about politics, they belong to us, ai^d petticoats 1

* fliould not meddle : biit come, who is the man ?' * Marry P j
/uid flie, * you may find him out yourfelf, if you pleafe. «

* You who are fo great a politician, can be at rio grea^

* Ibfs. The judgment, which can penetrate into the cabi-

* nets of princes, and difcovcr the feeret fpijings .\vh5ch
^ move the great ftate-wheels in all the political machines

* .of'ilurope, muft furely, with very little difliculty, find

* out w^hat pafles in the rud^ uninforined mind of a girl.*

* Sifter,* cries the fquire, * I have often warned you not

* to talk the court- gibber ifh tp me. I tell you, I don't
^ underfland the lingo ; but I can read a journal, or the
' London Evening poft. Perhaps, indeed, there may be
'* now and tan a verfe which I can't mdce much of, be-
'*■ cuufe hal%|he letters are left out ; yet I know very wel).

\ what fi^neant by that, and that our affairs don't go fo
well as they fhould do, b^caufe of bribery and corrup-

tlon.* * I pity your country-ignorance from my heart,*

jciics the lady. * * Do you ?' anfwered Weflern '; * and I

* pity your tov^rn -learning ; I had rather be any thing than

* a courtien and a Prefbyterian, and a Hanoverian too,

* 5s feme people, I believe, are.' * If you mean me/
arifwered fhe, * you know I am a woman, brother ; and

/ It fignlfies nothing what I am. Befides'— * I do know
> you are a woman,* cries the fquire, * and its well for

* iliee that art one ; if hadft been a man, I promife thee I

* had lent thee a flick long ago.' * Ay there,' fald Oie, * ip

* that flick lies all your fancied fuperiority. Your bo-

* dies, and not your brains, ^e ftronger than ours. Be-

* lieve me, it is well for you that 'you are able to beat

* us; or^ luch is the fuperiority of our underftaiidingjvce ,
< If.ould make all of you wliat the brave, and wife, and .;^^

*■ witty, and polite are already, our flaves.* * I afl* '

.' glad I know your mind,' anfwered the fquire j * but '.

* we'll talk more ^f this matter another time : a| pre^ '';
/ fiuty do tell me \v\\at rw^n it is you mean rfbout-n^i|.

/ daughter V * Hold amomcuv; ^eX^^^, «» N(fiSktQi^lJ|

^ap.2. F O U N I> L I N- G. »2-r

* that fbvereign contempt I have for your fex ; or elfe I

* ought to be angry too with you. There — I have madti

* a fhifi to gulp it ^dqyvn. And now, good politic Sir,

* what think you of Mr BlifU ? Did (he not faint away oi^
^ feeing him He breathlefs on the ground? did fhe notj^

* after he was recovered, turn pale ag^In the moment.

* we came up to that part of the field where he flood ?

* and pray what elfe (hould be the occafion of ail her me-
\ lancholy that night at fapper. the next morning,, and,

* indeed ever iince ?* * 'Fore George !' cries the fqulre>

* now you mind me on't. I remember it all. It Is cer-
*. tainly fo, and I am glad on't with all my heat^t. t
*. knew Sophy was a^od girl, and would not fall in Jove
*. to make me angry. I was never more rejoiced in my

* life: for nothing can He fo handy together as our tw(>

* eflates. I had this matter Iri my head fome time ago ^

* for certainly the two ellates are in a manner, joined to-

* gether in matrimony already, and it would be a thou-

* land pities to part them. It is true, indeed, there be

* larger cflates in lihe kingdom, biit not in this county ;

* and- I'had rather bate fomething, than marfy jny daugh-*.

* ter among flrangers and foreigners. Befides, raoft

* o'zuch great e({at<:s be in the h>aiid3 of lords, and I hxte

* the very name of themmtn. Well, but fifler, what

* would you advlfe me to do? for, I tell you, women

* know thefe matters better than we do V <0, your hum-

* ble fervant. Sir,' anfwered the laly, < w6 are oblb-ed
' to you for allowing us a capacity In any thing. Sinci:

* you are pleafeJ, then, moft politic Sir, to aik my ad-

* vice, I think you may propofe the ma|:ch to Allworthy
*' yourfelf. There is no indecorum in the propofal's co-

* ming from the parent of either fide. King Alcinous, in
*■ Mr Pope's Oclyffey, offers his daughter to Ulylfes. I

* need not caution fo politic a perfon not to fay that your

* daughter is in love ; that would indeed be againfl all

* rules.' -*Well,' f;^id the fquire, « I will propofe It;
< but I fhall certainly lend un a flick, if he fhouldjjrfufe
*. me.' < Fear not,' cries Mrs Wellern, < the matgfl^Roo

* advantageous to be refufed.' < I dont know th^^'^hi-
: Iwered the fquire ; < All worthy is ^ queer b — cH, arid

'M' money Kath no efFeiSt o'un.' < Brother,' faid the lady,

* your politics ailonlfh me. . Are vovx ic^lW t'Ci \i^ Vsk^^^*

^2fi The R I S T a R Y of a Book Vl

; « ftd on by profbffiotrs ? Do yoH think Mr Allworthy hatE.

* more contempt for money than other men, becaufe he

* profeffes more ? Such credulity would better become one

* of U3 weak women, than than wife fex which Heaven

* hath formed for politicians^ Indeed^ brother, you
^ would make a fine plem'po, to negotiate with the-

* French. They wotild foon perfuade you that they take
** towns out of mere defenfive principles.* * Sifter,* an-
fwered the fquire, with much fcorn, * let your frienda

* at court anfwer for the towns takea; as you are a wo*
^ man, I fhall lay no blame upon you i for I ftippofe they

* are wifer than to tru ft women with felcrets*' He ac-
companied thia with fo farcaftical a langh, that Mry Wef-
tern could bear no longer. She had beea all this time-
fretted in a tender part, (for fhe was indeed very deeply
ikilled in thefe matters, and very violent in them J and-
therefore burft forth io a rage, declared her brotner to»
be both a clown and a blockhead, and that fhe would ftay
BO longer in his houfe*

' The fquire, though perhaps he bad never read Machi*
avel, was, however, in many points, a perfeft. politician,*
He ftrongly held all thofe wife tenets which are fo well in-
culcated in that Politico-Peripatetic fchool of Exchange-
lilley. He knew the juft value and only ufe of money, viz^
^ to lay it up. He was likewife well fkijled in^he exad va»
.lue of reverfions, expedtations, i^c. and had often confidcr-
€d tile amount of hiar fifter*s forWne, and the chance he or
hf^ pbfterity had of inheriting it. This he was infinitely
too wife to facrifice to a trifling refentment. When he
ibnnd, therefore, he had carried matters too far, he began
to'think of reconciling them ; which was no very difficult
taft, as the lady had great affedlion for her brother, andl
Hill greater for her niece ; and though too fufceptible of
an' affront offered to her /kill in politics, on which fhe much-
vatiied herfelf, was a woman of a very extraordinary good'
and fweet difpofition.,

i^tkpg firft,. therefore, laid violent hands on the hor-
ies^^|ro#v^ofe efcape from the ftable no place but thr
^liiaow: was left open 5 he next applied hWfelf to his.
lifter, foftened and flUothed herj by unfaying all he hai
ikid,, and by alfcrtlons diredly contrary to thofe wtii<^^
had licchfed her. Liaftly >, "he &ix»mo«v£^^^ d^^^fisDisie gfitf

Oap, 3: F O U N D L IN G. zfg*

.fejphia to his affiftance, who, befides a'moft graceful and
winning addrcfe, had the advantage of being heard with
great favour and partiality by her aunt.

The refult of the whole was a kind fmile from Mi»'
Weftern, who faid, * Brother, you are abfolutcly a per-

* fe<Si Croat ; but as thofe have their ufe in the army of
' the Emprefs Queen, fo you like wife have fome good in
*' you. I will tlierefdre once m6re fign a treaty of peace

* * with yOu, and fee tliat yOu do not infringe it on your

* fide ; at leaft, as you arc fo excellent a politician, I may
*' expert you will keep your leagues, like the French,. ti£U
^^y.our intereft <:alls upon you to break tliem.'

C H A R III.

Confatmng t*wa defiances to the crkics*

T'H E fquire having fettled matters with his fi{tei>V
as we have feen m the laft chapter, was fo greatly"^
impatient to communicate the propofal to Allworthy, -
that Mrs Weftern had the utmoft difficulty to prevent
him from viiiting that gentleman in his ficknefs, for this •
purpofe.

Mr All worthy had been engaged to dine with Mr*
Weftern at the time when he was taken ill.^ He waa^ ^
therefore no fooner difcharged out of the cuftody of phy-
^xiy but he thought (las was ufual with him on all occa-'
fbns, both* the higheft and thcJowfcft) bf fuliillkig his en--
gagement.

In the interval between the time of the dialogue 'in thtf*
laft'chrpter, and this day of public entertaiiment; Sophia^
had, from certain obfcure hints thrown out by her aunt^--
collected fome appreherifion that the fagacious'lady fuf--
ptdied her p^ffion for Jones. She now refolved-to t&ke this-'
opportum'ty of wiping out all fuch fufpicion/. and for that-
purpofe to put an entire conftraint^ on her bchaviour.'-
Firft, (he endeavoured to conceal^ a throbbingi mjblan?*-
oholy heart with the utmoft fprightl4nefs> in her cOante--
nance, arid the higheft' gaiety in 'her man nero' S^co^idfy,* .
flie addreffcd her whole difcourfe to Mr BliHl, and^^ok^not^
|iie leaft notice of poor Jones the whole'day.-
i; "yte fquire was fo delighted\s\t\i<'w\\v <iQ^4>^^* vSXvj^^

^•30 The H I S T O R Y of t Book VI.

daughter, that he fcarce eat any dinner, and fpent^ almof?:
his whole time in watching opportunities of conveying
figns of his approbation by winks and nods to his fifter;
who was not at firft aUbgether fo pleafed with what (he
faw as was her brother.

In fhort, Sophia fo greatly overafted her part, that
her aunt was at firft ftaggered, and began to fufpeA
fome affeAation in her niece ; but as fhe was herfelf a wo-
man of great art, fo fht foon attributed this tp extreme
art in Sophia. She remembered the many hints fhe had
^iven her niece' concerning her being in love, and ima-
gined the young lady had taken this way to rally her put
of her opinion, by an overaded civility ; a notion that
was greatly corroborated,, by the exceflive gaiety with
which the wh« le was accompanied. We cannet here a-
void remarking, that this conjecture would have been bet-
ter founded, had Sophia lived ten years in the air of Grof-
venor-fquare, where young ladies do learn a wonderful
knack of rallying and playing with that paiTion, which is a
mighty ferious thing in woods and groves an hundred miles
dillant from London.

To fay the truth, in difcovering the deceit of others,
it matters much that cur own art be wound up, if I may
tife the cxpreflion, in the fame key with theirs : for very
artful men fometimes mifcarry by fancying others wifer,
or in other words^. greater knaves than they really are.
As this obfervatlon is pretty deep, I will illuflrate it with
the following fliort flory. Three countrymen-were pur-
fuing a Wiltfhire thief through Brentford. The iimplefk
of thrm feeing the Wiltfhire houfe written under a fign,

^ advil'ed his companions to enter it, for there moft probably'
they would f nd their countryman. The fecond, who was
wifer, laughed at this fimplicity ; but the third, who wa»
wifer ftill, aniwered, * Let us go in, however, for he may
* think we fhould not fufpeCt him of going among his
< own countrymen. They accordingly. went in, and fearch*"
cd the houfc, and by that means miffed overtaking the,
thief, who was, at that time, but a little way before them,

• and who, as they all knew, but had never once refleded,.

eould not read, > '

The reader \vill pardon adigrefTion in which fo iiwra!*.'.

Hiabk a fecrct ia commuuk^u^, ^mc^ ^n^x^ ^%m«ft^/

':Mm

Chap. 3. FOUNDLING. iji

will agree how neceffary it is to know exa6lly the play
of another, in order to countermine him. This will,
moreover, afford a reafon why the wifer_man, as is often
feen, is the bubble of the weaker, and why many fimple
and innocent charadlers are fo generallv mifunderilood,
and mifreprefented ; but what is moft material, this will
account for the deceit which Sophia put on her politic
aunt. -

Dinner being ended, and the company retired into the
garden, Mr Weftem, who was thoroughly convince4 of
the certainty of what his fifter had told him, took Mr
All worthy afide, and very bluntly propofed a match be-
tween Sophie and young Mr Blihl.

I Mr All worthy was not one of thofe men whofc heart*
flutter at any unexpedcd and fudden tidings of worldly
profit. His mind was, indeed, tempered with that phi-
lofophy which becomes a man and a Chriftian. He af-
fected no abfolute fuperiority to all pleafure and pain^
to all joy and grief ; but was not, at the fame time, to
be dlfcompofed and ruffled by every accidental blaft, by
every fmile or frown of fortune. He received, there-
fore, Mr Weftem's propofal without any vifihle emotion,
or without any alteration of countenance. He faid, the
alliance was fuch as he fincerely wiflied : then launched
forth into a very jail encomium on the young lady's me-
rit ; acknowledged the offer to be advantageous in point
of fortune ; and after thanking Mr Weitern for the good
opinion he had profefled of his nephew, concluded, that
if the young people liked each other, he fliould be very
delirous to complete the affair.

fc Weftern was a little difappointed at Mr Allworthy's an-
fwer, which was not fo warm as he expected. He treat*
cd the doubt whether the young people might like one
another, with great contempt ; faying. That parents
were the bed judges of proper matches for their children ^ ■
that, for his part, he fhould infift on the mofl refigned
obedience from his daughter ; and if any young fellow
could refufe fuch a bed-fellow, he was his humble fer-^
lant, and h,oped there was no harm done.

Allworthy endeavoured to foften this rcfentmcnt hj
lisany elogiums on Sophia; declaring, he had no doubt
but that Mr Bb'fil would very ^Ud\^ tt.Q,«iVi^ ^^ ^^'?2t%v

ajf The HI STORY of a BookVi?

but all was inefFe^ual^ he couFd obtain no other anfweir'
irom the fqiure but— *'I fay no nvore — I humbly hope*

* therc'ff no harm done — that's all.' Which words he
repeated at lead a hundred times before they parted.

Allworthy was too well acquainted with his neighbour'
to be offended at this behaviour ; and' though he was fo
averfe to the rigour which Ibme parents exercife on their
children in the article of marriage, that he had refolved-
never to force hir nephew^s inclinations, he was, never-
thelefs, much pleafed with the profpeA of this union ; :
for the whole country refounded thr praifes'-of Sophia,*
and he had himfelf greatly admired the uneommon en«
dowments of^both her mind and perfoa. To which, Ibc*-
liere, we may add, the confideration of her vaft for--
tunc, which, though he was too fober to be intoxicated >
with it, be was too fenfible to defpife; -

• And here> in defiance of all the barking critics* in the'
world, I' muft, and will introduce a digreifi on concern-
ing itnie wifidoffi, of which Mr Allworthy. was in reality r
as great a pattern at he was of goodoefs.

True wifdom then notwithftanding all which Mr Ho-*-

?irth'a poor poet may have writ againlt' ridies, and ia *
ight of all' which any rich, well-fed divine may have '
preached againft pleafure, confifts not in the contempt'
of either or thefe. - A man may have as much wifdom in '
the pofieilion of an affluent fortune, as any beggar in^
llie flreets ; or may enjoy a handfome-wife or' a hearty
friend^ and ilill remain as wife as any four popifh reclufe^^
who banes all hia* focial- i^unil^es, and ibarveshis be]ly'
while he well lifhes his back.-

To fay truth, the wijfeft^ man is the likeiieft to poffefs •
all worldly bleffings in. an eminent degree ; for as that
'moderation whi^h wifdom prefcribes is the fureft way to'
ij^cful wealth,* fo cafi it- alone qualify us to tafte many '
'pleafures. The wife man gratifies every appetite and e-;
ycrj paffion, while the fool- faoriiices all iiie reft to pall-
and fatiate one;

It may be objededV that' very wife men have been no--
torioufly avaricious. I anfwer, Not wife in that inftance. -
'It may likcwife be faid. That the wifeft men have been in ■
their youth imflaoderately fgnd of pkafurc* I aafwer^^.*
a^^J?WJ«iK)twifetiWft»" ^

Ch^.^ FOUNDLING. sjj

Wifiicrrn, m ihort, whofc leflons have been reprefented
as {o hard to learn by thofe who irever were at her fchoo^^
only teaches us to extend a fimple maxim univerfally knowa
and followed, even in the loweft life, a little farther thaA
that life carries it ; and this is, not to buy at too dear a:
price.

Now, whoever takes this maxim abroad with- him into
the grand mLarkct of the worlds and conftantly applies it to
honours, to riches, to pleafures, and to* every other com^^
modity which that market affords, ia, I will venture t^
affirm, a wife man, and muft be fo acknowledged, in th^
worldly fenfe of the word : for he makes the beft of bar-
gains, fincein reality he pur chafes every thing at the price
onfy of a little trouble, and carries home all the good
things I have mentioned, while he keeps his health, hi«
« mnocence, and hia reputatfon, the common prices whichr
are paid for them by others, entire and to himfelf.

From this moderation^ likewife^ he learns two other
feflbns, which complete his chara6ler. Firft, neveii to
be intoxicated when he hath made the beft. bargsiin,. nor
dej e6ted when the market fa empty, or when its commo*.
dities are too dear for his purchafe.

But I muit remember on what fobjcft' I am writing^,
and not trefpafs too fat on the patience, of a good-natu*
led critic. Here,, therefore, I put an end to t£e chapter*.

C H A P. IV.

ConfcUnlng fundry curious mattets^^

AS fdon as Mr All worthy returned home, he took WTt
Blifil apart, and, after foin^ prcfece, communica-*'
ted to him the propofal which had been nrade by Mr
Wcftern, and at the fame time, infotmed him how agree*
able this match would be to himfelf.
■ The charms 6f Sophia had not made the Icaft impreC*
fion on Blifil : not that his heart was pi^-^engaged, ne>^
ther was hetdtally infenfible of beauty,, or had 'any aver-
£on to women ; but his appetites were l)y nature w mb-
derate,' that he was able by philofophy ; or b^ ftudy>.
•t by fome other method, ea^ly to fubdaethem; antf
w to that paflion which ^^lir t£^\»^ ^'vx. "^ %a^

234 The HISTORY of sr B^kVS

chapter of this book he had not the leaft tin^ure of it
in his whole compofition, . :

But though he was eatirely free from that mixed paflion
of which we there treated, and of which the virtues and
beauty of Sophia formed fo notable an objeii, yet was
he altogether as well furnifhed with fome other pafHons^
that promifed themfclves" very full gratification in the youn^
lady's fortune. Such were avarice and ambition, which
divided the dominion of his mind between them. He had
more than once confidered the pofleflion of this fortune as a
very deiirable thing, and had entertained fome diftant view*
concerning it ; but his own youth and that of the young
lady, and indeed principally a reflexion that Mr Weft-s
em might marry again, and have more children, had rc-^
firained him from too haily or eager a purfuit.

This laft and mofl material objedlion was now in great
meafure: removedy as the : propofal came from Mr Weft^
era' himfelf. Blifil, therefore, after a very fhort heiita-
tioi^ anfwered Mr All worthy, that matrimony w.as' sr
fubjedi on which he had not yet thought ; but that He
vras fo fenfible of Ijis friendly and fatherly care, that he
fhoald in all things fubmit himftjf to his plcafure. ^

All worthy was naturally a man of fpirit, . and his prc-
fent gravity arofe from true wi£dom and philofophy, : not
from any original phlegm in his difpofition ; for he. had
poffefled much fire in his youth, and had married a beau-
tiful woman for lovCr He was* not>^ therefore, greatly
pleafed with this cold anfwer of his nephew, nor could he
help launchiag forth into the praifes of Sophia, and ex-
preffing fome wonder that the heart of a young man could
be impregnable to the force of fuch charms, unlefs it^was
guarded by fome prior affedlion.

Blifil aifui^ed h^m heTiad no fuch guard, and then prd-.
ceeded to difcourfe fb wifely and reTigioufly on loyeifM^
marriage, that he would have ftopt the mouth of a pft*j4
^nt i^iuch lefs deyoutly inclined thai> was his uncle. i^L.
the end, the good m^n was fatisfied,« that hia nephe\^«||||

cd jqot but the lover

Chap. 5- FOUNDLING. 435

together as agrecBble to hia niiftrefs, he forefaw great
happinefs ai^ifing to all parties by fo proper and defireable
an union. Wftn Mr BlifiPs confent, therefore, he wrote
the aext morning to Mr Weftern, acquainting him, that
his nephew had very thankfully and gladly received the
propofal, and would be ready to wait on the young lady,
whenever fhe fhould be pleafcdto accept his vifit.

Weftern was much pleafed with this letter, and immc-
jdiately returned an anfwer ; in which, without having
mentioned, a word to his daughter, he appointed that ve-
ry afternoon for opening the icene of courtfhip.

As fobh as he had difpatched this meflenger, he went
rin queft of his fifter, whom he found reading and ex-
pounding the Gazette to Parfon Supple. To this expo-
fitlon he was obliged to attend near a quarter of an hour^
:though 'with great violence to his natural impetuofity,
"before he was fofFered to fpeak. At length, however, he
found an opportunity of acquainting the lady, that he
liad bufinefs of great confequencc to impart to her ; to
which (he anfwered, * Brother, I am entirely at your

* fervice. Thipgs look fo weW in the Norths that I was

* never in a better humour.*

The parfon then withdrawing, Weftern acquainted her
with all which had pafled, and defired her to communicate
^he affair to Sophia, which fhe readily and chearfully un-
dertook ; though perhaps her brother was a little obliged
to that agreeable northern afpedl which had fo delighted
•her, that he heard no comment on his proceedings: for
^hey were certainly fomewhat too hafty and violent.

C H A P.* V.

^^^ *vohich is rdated^^mhat pajfed hetnueen Sophia and T)er aunt,

I^'^iC'Gphia was in her chamber reading, when her aunt

^ *0 came in. The moment (he faw Mrs Weftern, ftie (hut

the book with fo much eager nefs, that the good lady

^ 'Cbuld not forbear aflcing her, what book that was which

Vihe feemed fo much afraid of fticwlng? 'Upon my word,

* Madam,' anfwered Sophia, * it is a book which I am nei-

* * ther aAamed nor afraid to ov? u \ \iv«^ i^'^'^* ^^^ *^'^ "^^

t^S . The HI STORY of • Bo^kVr,

* ,produ£lion of a young lady of £ifhioii« who& good un*

* dericanding I think, doth honour to her flex and whofc

* good heart is an honour to human nature.' Mrs Wcft-
crn then took up the book^ and immediately threw it
down, faying, * Yes, the author is of a very ggod fe-

* mily ; but fht is not nuich among people one knows. I

* have never read it ; for the beft judges fay, there is not
' much in it.' * I dare not, Madam, fet up my own opi-

* nion,' fays Sophia, * againil tlie beft judges, but there
' ai^ears to me a great deal of human nature in it ; and

* in many parts io much true tendernefs and delicacy,

* that it hath coft me many a tear.' * Ay, and do you
« love to cry then ?' fays the aunt. * I love a tender fen-

* fation,* anfwered the niece, * and would pay the price

* of a tear for it at any time.' * Well, but fhew me,'
£iid the aunt, * what was you reading when I came in ;

* there was fomcthing very tender in that, I believe, and

* very loving too. You blufh, my dear Sophia. Ah !

* Child, you fhould read books which would teach you a
^ little hypocrify, which would inftrudl you how to hide

* your thoughts^a little better.' * I hope. Madam,' an-
fwered Sophia, * I have no thoughts which IjDught to be

* afhamcd of difcovering.' * Afhamed ! no,' cries lh<
aunt, * I don't think you have any thoughts which yot

* ought to be afhamed of; and yet, child, you bluihed

* juft now when I mentioned the word loving. Dear So-

* phy, be alTured you have not one thought which I an;

* not well acquainted with ; as well, child, as the French

* are with our motions, long before we put them in exe^
« cution. Did you think, child, becalife you have beer
{l^ble to impofe upon your father, that you could impof<

upon me ? Do you imagine I did not know the reafon oi
your overadling all that friendlliip for Mr Blifil yefter-
day. r I have feen a little too much of the world ||^(
fo deceived. Nay, nay, do not blufh again. I telr/^^
ft is a paflion you need not be afhamed of. — It is a |^
fion I myfelf approve, and have already brought yoiii
father into the approbation of it. Indeed I folely con-
fider your inclination ; for I would always have thai
gratified, if polTible, though one may facrlfice highei
profpedls. Come, I have news which will delight youi
very fouh Make me your confident, and I will under-

Chap->j. FOUNDLING. ,13/

* take you (hail be happy to the very extent of your wifli*

* es.' * La, Madam,' fays Sophia, looking more foolifh-
iy than ever (he did in her life, * I know not what to fay.— ^

< Why, Madam, (hould you fufpedl' — < Nay, no dif-

* honcfty,' returned Mrs Weftern. * Confidcr you are

* fpeaking to one of your own fex, to an aunt, and I hope

* you are convinced you fpeak to a friend. Confider you

* are only revealing to me what I know already, and what

* I plainly faw yefterday, through that moft artful of all

* difguiies, which you had put on, and which mud haye

< deceived any one who had not perfe^lly known thcr

* world. . Lafily, confider it is a paffion which I highly

* approve.' * La, Madam,' fays Sophia, < you come upom

* one fo unawares, and on a fuddtn,. To be fure, Ma-

* dam, I am not blind — and certainly, if it be a fault to

* fee all human perfedlions afTcmbled together — But is it

* polfible my father and you. Madam, can fee with my

* eyes ?' * I tell you,* anfwered the aunt, * we do entirely

* approve ; and this very afternoon your fatker hath ap-

* pointed for you to rcceivt: your lover.' * My father^

* this afternoon !* cries Sophia, with the blood itarting

* from her face. — * Yes child,' faid the aunt, * this at-

* ternoon. You know the impetuofity of my brother'^

* temper. I acquainted him with the pafHon which I (ir(k

* difcovtred in you that evening when you fainted away

* in the field. I faw it in your fainting. I faw it imme*

* diately upon your recovery. I faw it that eVening at

* fupper, and the next morning at breakfail : (you know,

* child, I have feen the world). Well, I no looner ac-

* quainted my v brother, but he immediately wanted to
<^ propofe it to Allworthy. He propofed it yeflierday^
« Allworthy confented, (as to be fure he mult withjoy),

»nd this afternoon, J tell you, you are to put on all

^^ur heft airs.' This aft||rnoon!' cries Sophia. * Dear

ait, you frighten me out of my fenfes.' * O my dear,*"

the aunt, ' you will foon come to yourfelf again ;;

^for he is a charming young fellow, that's the truth oa't.*'

* Nay, I will own,' lays Sophia, • I know none with fuch.
^* perfedlions. So brave, and yet fo gentle ; fo witty^

* yet fo inofFenfive ; fo humane, fo civil, fo genteel, lb
f hand^me I W tiat fignifics his being bafe born, when

^l.cpmpared with fuch qualificatioua ^ dvife I' * ''^•3fv<.\^'^x\!vV

* \7hat do you mean V faid l\\e auut> * lAx ^Xvl^Xy^Ov^Qitx::^:
Vol. L X '

^3^ , The. H I S T O U Y of a Book VI,

Sophia turned inftantly pale at this name, and £aintly re-
p€;£^tcd it. Upon which the aunt cried, Mr Blifil, ay,

< Mr Blifil : of whom elfe have we been talking ?' * Good
«. heavens !' anfwered Sophia, ready to fink, * ot Mr Jones
« I thought ; I am fure I know no other who deferves
«< -' * I proteft,' cries the aunt, * you frighten me in

* your turn. Is it Mr Jones, and not Mr Blihl, who is,
,• the objed oi your affedjon V * Mr Blifil 1* repeated So-
phia, * fure it is impoffible you can be in earnell ; if you
•< are, 1 amthe molt'mifer^ble woman alive.* Mrs Weft*
«rn now flood a few moments filent, while fparks of fiery
rage flaftied from her eyes* At length, colle6ling all her
fprce of voice, fhe thundered forth in the following articu-
Itite founds : *

* Audis it poflible you can think of difgracing your family

* by allying yourfelf to a balUrd ? Can the blood of the
*• Welterns lubmit to fuch contamination ! If you have

* not fenfe futficient to rellrain Inch mohftrous inclinsu-

* tiona, I thought the pride of our family would have
^** prevented you from giving the leaft encouragement to

< fo bafe an affedtion ; much lefs did 1 imagine you would

* ever have had the affurance to own it to my ^ce.'

* Madam,' aniwered Sophia, trembling, < what I have

* faid you have extorted from me. I do not remjembcr

* to have ever mentioned the name of Mr Jones with ap-

* probation to any one before ; nor fhould 1 now, had I
"f not conceived he had had your approbation. What-

* ever were my thoughts of that poor unhappy young

* man, I intended to have carried them with me to my

* grave — to that grave where only now, 1 find, I am to

* leek repofe,*— Here fhe funk down in her chair, drown-
ed in htr tears, and, in all the moving lilence of unut^"^
?ible grief, preleuted a fpe<Stac^skich muij: have f^^
alniok the harde It heart. .ijC^

All this tender forrow, Iw^ever raifed no »
fion in her aunt. On the contrary^ fhe now ft

the molt violent rage. * And I would rather^

ciicd, in a moil veheme;it voice, * follow you to y

* grave, than I would, lee you diigracc yourieif and ys

* family by inch a match. O Heaven^ ! could I haver

* fidpc^tcd that I fhould live to hear a niece of mkie.
^ deciare a palfion for iueVv. ^. iviWow \ Xqvl ^x^ u\e iii^

/ /Cdr^Miis WetUrn,you?itcl\\^'^\^^o^^^^xs^'«».^^

CBap- ^ FOUNDLING. i J9

* entertained fo groveling a thought. A family fo nd-

* ted for the prudence of its women.' — Here (he run on a
full quarter of an hour, till having exhaufted her breath raf-
thcr than her rage, (he concluded with threatening to go
immediately and acquaint her brother.

Sophia the» threw l>erfclf at her feet, and laying hoM
of her hands, begged her, wkh tears, to conceal what
ftie had drawn from her; urging the violence of hci*
father's temper^ and protefting that no inclinations of
hers fhould ever pretail with her to do any thing which,
might offend him*

Mrs Weftera flood 91 moment looking at her, and then
. having recollefted herfdf, faid, That on one confideration
only fhc would keep the fecret from her brother ; and this
was, that Sophia (hould promife to entertain Mr Blifil
that very afternoon as her lover^ and to regard him, as the
.pcrfpn who was to be her hufband.

Poor Sophia was too much in her aunt's power tO'detiy
lier any thing pofitive^y ; fhe was t>bHged to promife
that fhe would fee i.ir Blifil, and be as civil to him as
poffible ; but begged her aunt that the match might not
.be hurried on. She faid, Mr Blifil, was by no means
agreeable to her, and (he hoped her father would be
prevailed on not to make her the raoll wretched of wo-
men.

Mrs Weftern affured her, that the match was entirely
agreed upon, and that nothing could or fhould preveiit
.it. * I mufl own,' faid fhe, * I looked on it as a matter of

* indifference; nay, perhaps, had fome fcru^le& d^out it

* before, which were actually got over by my thinfcing it

* highly agreeable to your own inclinations : but now I

ard it as the morfeligible thing in the world ; nor
' there be, if I cflBM|uit it, a moment of time loft
I occafion.' ^^^^B

[a^ replied, * D^l^^ leaf!, Madam, I may ejc-

from both your goodnefs an^ my father's. Sure

will give me time to endeavour to get the better

fo ilrong a difinclinatlon as I have at prefent to thia

pcrfon.'

The aunt anfw^red, She knew too muchl of the world
» be fo deceived ; that as fhe was fenfible another man
rd her affcdions, flie (hould Taext>3ka.^^ ^(^'^^^xj^ \.^

^4o The H I S T O R Y of a look VL

haften the match as much as poHIble. * It would be

* bad politics indeed,' added (he, * to protract a fiege when

* the enemy's army is at hand, and in danger of relieving
"* it. No, no, Sophy,' laid (he, * as I am convinced

* you have a violent paflion, w^hich you can never (atisfy
^ with honour, I will do all I can to put your honour

* out of the care of your family ; for when you are married>
■* thofe matters will belong only to the con-fideration of

* your hufband. I hope, child, you will always have
5 prudence enough to aft as becomes you ; but if you (hould

* not, marriage hath faved many a woman from ruin.'

Sophia well underftood what her aunt meant ; but did
not think proper to make her an anfwer. However, Ae
took a refolution to fee Mr Blifil, and to behave to him
ns civilly as fhe could ; for on that condition only Ae
obtained a promife from her aunt to keep fecret the li-
king which her ill fortune, rather than any kheme of Mrs
. Wcllcrn, had unhappily drawn from her,

CHAP. VI.

Containing a dialogue ietnveen Sophia and Mrs Honour^
*which may a little relieve thofe tender affeSlions njohich
the foregoing fcene may have raifed in the mind of a good*
natured reader.

MRS Weftern having obtained that promife from her
niece which we have feen in the laft chapter, with-
drew : and prefe«tly after arrived Mrs Honour. She
was at work in a neighbounng apartment, and had been
fummoned to the Jcey-hole by fome vociferation in the
preceding dialogue, where fhe had continued during the
remaining part of it. AtJ!i^^j||iry into the room^.
found Sophia (landing mcAmPls, with the tears
ling from her eyes. Upon which (he immediatel]^
dered a proper qua^fity of tears into her own eyes,
then began, * O gemini, my dear lady, what is the

* ter V * Nothing,' cries Sophia. * Nothing ! O dear

* Madam,' anfwers Mrs Honour, * you muft not tell me

* tJlat, when your Ladyfhip is in this taking, and when

* there hath been fuch a preamble between your Lady(hip

* a/jJ Madam Weftern.' * Don't teazc me,' cries Sophi^

iig the

t m^V

taiap. & F O U N D L I N G* 24*

* I tdl you notluag 18 the matter. — Good Heavens ! whf

< was. I born!' * Nay, Madam,' fays Mrs Honour,

,* you fhall never ^ perfuade me that your La'fhip can la*

* roent yourfelf fo for nothing. To be fure I am but a
•* fervant ; but to be fure I have been always faithful to

* your lia'fhip, arjdtobefure I would ferve your La' (hip
f with my life.' * My dear Honour, fays Sophia, < 'tis
-* not in thy power to be of any fervice to me. I am ir-
.* retrievably undone.' < Heaven forbid, '^ anfwcred the
waiting- woman ; * but if I can't be of any fervice to you^
' pray tell me. Madam, it will be fome comfort to me to
f know : pi*ay, dear Madam, tell me what's the matter.*
•* My father,' cries Sophia, * is going to marry me to a

* man I botii defpife and hate.' ' dear Ma'aoi,' an-
fwered the other, * who is this wicked man ? for to h^
^ iiire he is very bad, or your La'fhip would not defpife
/* him.' * His name is poifon to my tongue,' replied So-
phia ; * thou wilt know it too foon.' Indeed, to confefk
ifche triith, fhe knew it already, and therefore was not ve-
xy inquifitive as to that point. She then protecded thus;

* I don't pretend to give your LaThip advice, wherecjT
** your La'fhip knows much better than I can pretend to^
-* being but a fervant ; but, i-fackins ! no father in Eng-
** land (hou>ld marry me againlt my confent. And to he

> fure, .the fqmre is fo good, that i£ he did biit know

* your La'ihip defpifes and hates the young man, to be
!* fore he would not defire you to maiTy him..^ And i€

* your La'ihip would but give ,me leave tq tell my mailer
. • fo — To be fure, it would be more properer to coraie

J* from your own mouth 5 but as your La'ihip doth not
-* care to foul your tongue with his< nafly name^ — ^ Yoit
& are ml ilaken, Honour,' fays Sophia, / my father was de-
f terimned before he ever thought fit ta mention; it to
e.' More fham^- for^iiiu,' cries Honour,. * yo«-aixr
go to bed to him, and*n4)t maffer; And tlidf aiman
maybe a very, proper man, yet every wo ntan? mayn't
think himhandfome alike. I am. fure my mailer woulJl
never adt in this manner of his own heacL ; I wiik fi'^^^y
t' people would trouble tlvenoffelves only witfiT what be-'"
-• longs to them ;: they would not, I belie v^'„ like t^ be

> ferved fb,. if it was their pwnr cafe ;^ forfchaiiglB 1 txxnv^
f msidi X oan (^aiUy-believeashoWw alliziaa^are isot-equaii-

Y J ^

Z^2 The HISTORY of a -^^BookVt

* ly agreeable. Arid what fignifies your La'ihlp having i

* fo great a fortune, if you can't pleafc yourfelf with the j

* man you think moft handfomeft ? Well, I fay nothing,

* but to be fure it is pity fome folks had not been better |

* born ; nay, as for that matter, I fliculd not mind it my^-

* felf ; but then there is not fo much money, and what

< of that? Your La'fiup hath money enough for both;

* and where can your La'fhip bellow your fortune bet- ;

* ter ? For to be fure every one muft allow, that he is

* the mod handfomeft, charmingcft, fineft,. tallcft, proper- ^

* eft man in the world* ' What do you mean by ruii*-

* ning on in this manner to me ?' cries Sophia, with a very
grave countenance ; * have I ever given any encourage^

< ment for thefe liberties ?' < Nay, Ma'am, I aH< pardon j

* I meant fno harm,' anfwered ihe : * but to be fure the

* poor gentleman hath run. in my head ever fince I faw

* him this morning* — To be fure, if your Ladyfliip had

< butfeen him juft now, you muft have pitied him. Poor

* gentleman ! I wifhes fome misfortune hath not happened

* to him : for h.€ hath been walking "about with his arm«
'< acrofs, and looking fo melancholy all this morning : I

* vow and proteft it made me almoft cry to fee him.*
« To fee whom V fays Sophia. * Poor Mr Jones,' an-
fwered Honour. * See him ! Why, where did you fcfe
■^ him?' cries Sophia. < Py the canal,. Ma'am,' fays Ho-

Bour. * There he hath; been walking all this morning,
'^ and. at laft there he laid himfdf down ; I believe he lies

* there ftlll. To be fure, if it had not been for my mo-

< delly, being a maid, as J am, I ftiouldhave gone and

* fpoke to him. Do, Ma'am, Jet me go and fee, only for

* a fancy, whether he is there ftill.' * Pugh !' fays So-
phia, * tl^^re ! no, no, what ftiould he do there ? He is

* gone before this time to be fure Befjdes^. why-r~what ,
<,^-^why ftiould you ^ o to fee ? — EcfidcFi I want you^fep
r* fometkL.g tlfc. .Go, fetch me my hat and gloves. |*I%
/ fliall walk with my aunjt in the gpvc before dinncr.ft,
.'Honour did immediStely rs (he was bid, andSophia pu<?
her hat on ; when looking in the glafs, ftie fancied the
ribbon with which her hat was lied, did net become her,
and^fb iei>t her maid back again for a, rjbbon of a differ^

jcnt colour J ^nd then giving. Mrs Honour repeated char-
;gcs notitiO iearee her. work ou ^u^ wicciuivx, .^». (h^Jadd it .'

.thap. 7- P <^ U N D L I N G; 24J

'was in violent hafte, and mail be finiflied that very day,
(he muttered fomething more about going to the grovi?,

*and then falHed out the contrary way, and walked as faft
as her tender trembling limbs could carry her, diredlly to- .

■ wafds the canal.

Jones had been there, as Mrs Honour had told her :
he had indeed fpent two hours there that morning in mfe-
lancholy contemplation drt his Sophia ; and had gone out
from the garden atone door, the moment (he entered it
at another. So that thofe unlucky minutes which had
been fpent in changing th^ ribbons, had prevented the
lovers from meeting at this time : a moft unfortunate ac-
cident, from which my fair readers will not fail to draw
a very wholcfome lefFon. And here I ftridlly forbid all

•male critics to intermeddle with a circumftance which I

•have recounted only for the fake of the ladies, and upon

:whicb they are only at liberty to conlment.

CHAP. vn.

ji piiinre of formal courtfhip in niintaturei as It alnxiayi
ought t(f ie draiun ; and a fcene of a tenderer kind painted
at full length.

IT was well remarked by one, (and perhaps by more),
that misfortunes do not come fingle. This wife max-
-im was now veriiied by Sophia, who was not only difap-
pointed of feeing the man fhe loved, but^had the vexation
of being obliged to drefs herfelf out, in order to receive a
vifit from the nym 'fhe hated.

That afternoon Mr Weftern/ for the firft time, acquain-
ted his daughter with. his intention ; tellin^r her he knew
very wxll that (he had heard it before from her aunt. So-
phia looked very grave on thisj nor could (he prevent a
' ^ few pearls from fte^h'ng into her eyep. 'Come, come,*
. -fays Wcilern, * none of your Waidcnifh airs ; I know all ;

* I affiire you fifterhath told me all.*

* Is it pofiible,' fays Sophia, * that my aMnt can have

* betrayed me already V 4^ Ay, ay,* fays Weftern, * be-
, * trayed you I ay. Why, you betrayed yourfelf yefler-
• * day ati dinner. You (htrwed your fancy vciy plainly, I

w f think. But .you young gltU vvtNtx Vxvft\« ^\o\. ^^

}a44* , The HISTORY of. a Book VT.

* would be at. So you cry becaufe I am goIi>g to marry

* you to the man you are in lovt with ! Your mgther, I

* remember, whimpered and whinned juft in the fame man'

* ner ; but it was all over within four and twenty hours

* after we were married : Mr Blifil is a brilk young masy

• * and will foon put an end to your fqeami(hne6. Come,
. * chear up, chear up, I expeft un every minute.' :

Sophia was now convinced that her aunt had beha/vgd

honourably to her ; and fhe determined to go through

that difagreeable afternoon with as much refolution a*

: poffible, and without giving the leail fiifpicion in the

world to her father.

Mr Blifil foon arrived ; and Mr Weft«rn foon after with-
drawing, left the young couple together.

Here a long filence of near a quarter of an hour en^
fued : for the gentleman, who was to begin the conver-
fation, had all that unbecoming modefty which confiftgj
in bafhfulnefs. He often attempted to fpeak, and as of-
ten fupprefled his words juft at the very point of utter-
ance. At laft, out they broke in a torrent of far-fetchedj
and high-ftrained compliments, which were anfwered oa
her fide by down-caft looks, half bows, and civil mono-
fyllables. Blifil, from his inexperience . in the ways of
women, and from his conceit of himfelf, took this beha-
, viour for a modeft aflent to his courtfhip; and wh^n, to*
. fhorten a fcene which ftie could no longer fupport, So-
phia rofe up and left the room, he unputed that too mere-
ly to bafhfulnefs, and comforted himfelf that he fhoukt
. foon have enough of her company.

lie was indeed perfedlly well fatisfied vnth his pro-
.fpedlof fuccefs ; for as to that entire and abfohjte pof-
■ feffion of the heart of his miftrefs, which romantic: lovers*

• require, the very idea of it never entered his head. . , ;

Her fortune and her perfon were the fele obje^lifeftff
\his wifhes, of which he made no doubt foon to bbu^n^^cl

obfolute property; as Mr Weftem's mind was fo ear J;

neftly bent on the match, and as he well knew the ftriffe
. obedience which Sophia was always ready to pay to her

• father's will, and the greater ftill which her fatl))^ WQukl;
cxa6:, if there was occafion : this authority,, thone&rfc,*^
togcthtv with the charms which he fancied in ;fhi*^^^wii:* . ^

'^'^xiosk and coBvexfaU^n^ co\A^ twjX .Si\V^^i^^

tJhap. 7. FOUNDLING. • 14 j

fucceedmg with a young lady whofe inclinations were, he
doubted not, entirely difengaged.

Of Joues he certainly had not even the leaft jealoufy ;
and I have often thought it wonderful that he had not.
Perhaps he imagined the charadler which Jones bore all
over the country, (how juftly let the reader determine),
of being one of the wikleft fellows in England, might
render him odious to a lady of the moft exemplary mo-
defty. Perhaps his fufpicroiw might be laid afleep by the
behaviour of Sophia, and of -Jones himfelf, when th^
were all in company together. Lafily, and indeed prin-
cipally, he was well affured there was not another fclf In
the cafe. He fancied that he knew Jones to the bottom,
and had, in reality, a great contempt for his underftand-
ing for not being more attached to his own intereft. He
had no appcehenilon that Jones was in love with Sophia ;
and as for any lucrative motives, he imagined they
would fway veiy little with fo filly a fellow. Bliiil,
moreover, thought the affair of Molly Seagrim ftill went
on, and, indeed, believed it would end in flaarriage : for
Jones really loved him from his childhood, and had kept
no fecret from him, till his behaviour on the (icknefs of
Mr Allworthy had entirely alienated hi« heart ; and it
was by no means of the quarrel which had enfued on tliis
occafion, and which was not yet reconciled, that Mr BH-
Gi knew nothing of the alteration which had happened
in the afIe<^ion which Jones had formerly borne towards
Molly.

From thefe reafons, therefore, Mr Blifil faw no bar to
his fuccefs with Sophia, lie concluded her behaviour
was like that of all other^youhg ladies on a firft vilit from
a lover, and it had indeed entirely anfwered his expe6la»
tions. ' •
' Mr Weftern took care to way- lay the lover at his exit
from his miftrefs. He found him fo elevated with his
fuccefs, fo enamoured with his daughter, and fo fatisfied
^5 with her reception of him, that the old gentleman began
•to caper and dance about his hall, and by many other an-
tic actions, to exprefs the extravagance of his joy ; for he
had not the leafl: command over any of his paffions ; and
that which had at any time the afcendtnt in his mind,
- hurried him to the wikkft eis£t&a.

1146 The H I S T O R Y of € Book V#|ft

As foon as Blifil was dq)arted, which was not till afi«f
tnany hearty kifles and embraces befliowed on him by We£»*
tern, the good fquire went inftanly in queft of his daug^« ' ^
ter, whom he had no fooner found, than he poured forth
the moft extravagant raptures, bidding her chufe what
cloaths and jewels (he pleafed ; and declaring that he had
no other ufe for fortune but to make her happy. He then
careffed her again and again with the utmoft profufion of
t fondnefs, called her by the moil endearing names^ and
proteiled (he was his only joy on earth. ^ '

Sophia perceiving her father in this fit of afFeftfottj-
which fhe ctid not abfolutely know the reafon of, {iat
fits of fondnefs were not unufual to him, though, this ytaM
rather more violent than ordinary), thought (he (faould
never have a better opportunity of difclofing herfelf thiaa
at prefent, as ^r, at leaft, as regarded Mr Blifil^; and^
(he too well forefaw the neceffity which fhe 'fhould foOiiii
be under of coming to a full explanation. After haviw
thanked the fquire, therefore, for all his profeflions w"
kindnefs, (he added, with a look full of inexpreffible
foftnefs, • And is it poiHble my papa can be fo good td

* place all his joy in his Sophy's happinefs l* which
Weftern having confimaed by a great oath, and a kifsj
(he then laid hold of his hand, and^ falling on her knees,,
after many warm and pafiionate declarations of affedioni
«nd duty, (he begged him, Not to make her the ihoft ^
miferable creature on earth, by forcings her to marry a'
man whom (he deteftcd. * This I intreat of you", de^r

* Sir,' faid (he, ' for your fake, as well as^my own, fince

* you are fo very kind to tell me your happinefs depends

* on mine.' * How ! what !' f^^ys Weftern^ ftaring wild*
ly. * O Sir,' continued (he, • not only your poor .So*

* phy's happinefs, her- very life, her being depends upo^
^ your granting her requeft. I cannot live with Mr Bli-*'

* fil. To force me into this marriage would be killii^^J^^^
. « me.' * You can't live with Mr Blifil !' (ays Wellen|^|y

* No, upon my foul, I can't,' anfwered Sophia. *Th^'|ffl
• * die and be d — ned,' cries he fpurning her from him* ^

* Oh ! Sir,' cries Sophia, catching hold of the (kirt of

. his coat, * take pity on me, I befeech you. Don't loojc '
. • and fay fuch cruel — Can you be unmoved while you fer
//our Sophy in this irtadfyji CQudixionJ caa thel)«fli.9ft

mx%v- 7- ^ F O U N D L I N G. 24^^

'^ fathers break my heart ? will Jie kill ijie by the moft
-• painful, cruel, lingering death ?' * Pooh ! pooh T cries
:the fquire, < all ftuot and nonfenfe, all maidenifh tricks.
■^ Kill you indeed ! will marriage kill you ?' — * Oh I Sir,*
f^nfwered Sophia, * fuch a marriage is worfe than death
>< —He is not even indilFerent, I hate and deteft him.'

< If you dietell un nerer fo much,' cries Wcftern, * you

* fliall ha' un.' This he bound by an oath too (hocking

* to repeat ; and after many violent afleverations, con-
cluded in the(e words : * I am refolved npon the matchy

* And ufllefe you confent to it, I will not give you a groat,

* not a fingle farthing j- no, though I faw you expiring

* with famine in the Itreet, I would not relieve you with

* -a morfel of bread. This is my fixed refolution, and

< fo I leave you to confider on it.' He then broke from
her with fuch violence, that her face dalhed againft the
floor, and he burft diredtly out of the room, leaving poor
Sophia prollrate on the ground.

When Weilern came into the hall, lie there foun4 Jones,
who, feeing^ his friend looking wild, pale, and almoft
breathlefs, coiild not forbear mquiring the reafon of all
thefe melancholy appearances. Upon which the fquire
*" immediately acquainted him^with the whole matter, con-
cluding with bitter denunciations againft Sophia, and very
vpathetic lamentations of the mifery of all fathers who arc
So unfortunate to have daughters.

Jones, to whom all the refolutions which had been ta-^
ten in favour of Blifil were yet a fecret, wa^j at firft almoft
ftruck dead with this relation ; but, recovering his fpirits
a tittle, mere defpair, as he afterwards faid, infpired him
to mention a matter to Mr Weftern, which feemed to re-
quirt more impudence than a human forehead wa^,f«ver '

, gifted with. He defired leave to go to Sophia, that he ^
might endeavour to obtain her concurrence with her fa-' ^
ther's iqclinations.

If the fquire had been as quick fighted, as he was re-
markable for the contrary, pafiion might at prefent very

• well have blinded him. He thanked Jones for offering to
undertake the office, and faid, * Go, go, pritliee, try what

< canlt do ; and then Iwore many execrable oaths that
he would turn her out of doors unlefs ftie confented to the
laoiatch.

^t The HISTORY of a BootV^i

C HAP. VIIL

ne Meets fig Ifetiveen Jones and Sophia.

JONES departed inftantly in queft of Sophia > whom he
found juft rifen from the ground where her fkther had
left her, with the tears trickling from her eyes, and
the blood running from her lips. He prefently ran to
her, and, with a voice full at once of tendernefs and terror,
cried, * O my Sophia, what means this dreadful fight 1*^
-#-She looked, foftly at him for a moment before (he fpoke,
and then faid, * Mr Jones for Heaven's fake, how came

* you here ?— Leave me, I befeech you, this moment/

* Do not,' fays he, * impofe fo harfh a command upon

* me— my heart bleeds fafler than thofe lips. O Sophia,

* how caiily could I drain ~my veins to preferve one drop

* of that dear blood.' • I have too many obligations to
*^ you already,' anfwered fhe ; for fure you meant- them

* fuch.'— Here (he looked at him tenderly almoft a mi-^
nute, and then, burtting into an agony, — cried, * O Mr

* Jones — why did you fave my Hie? — my death would
« have beeji hapjpier for us both.' — * Happier for us both I'
cried he, * could racks or wheels kiU me fo painfully

* as Sophia's — I cannot bear the dreadful found. — Do I

* live but for her ?'— Both his voice and look were full of
inexpreffible tendernefs, when he fpoke thefe words,
and, at the fame time, he laid gently hold on her hand,,
which (he did not withdraw from him : to fay the
truth, (he hardly knew what (he did or fufFered. A few
moi^llits now pa(red in filence between thefe lovers, While
his eyes were eagerly fixed on Sophia, and her's declining

•^ towards the ground; at laft (hedfcc^^ed ftrength e-
nough to delire him again to l^^ie *^, for^ that her
certain ruin would be the confequence of t]^ir being found, '
together ; adding, * O Mr yjbnes, you %now not, you

* know not what hath paflqj^his cruel afternoon.' * Iv

* know all, my Sophia,' anfwered he ; * your cruel fa-'

* ther hath told me all; and he himfelf hath fent mt hi<«

* ther to you.' * My father fent you to me !' replied (he^
—^ '^ire you dream,' *\7ou\dtoYL<t^\^iii ct\ss»lLe^ <it w^j^^, '

8. FOUNDLING. 249

a-^eam, O Sophia your father hath fent me to y&u,
e an advocate of my odious rival, to folicit you iii
avour. — I took any means to get accefs to you. — O
k to me, Sophia, comfort my bleeding heart. Sure
ne ever loved, every doate>i like me. Do not unkindly
-hold this dear, this foft, this gentle hand. — One
lent, perhaps, tears you for ever from me. — No-
5 lefs than this cruel occafion could, I believe, have

conquered the refpedl and awe with which yoii

infpired me.' She ftood a moment filent, and co-
mth confufion, then lifting up her eyes gently to-
him, flie cried, * What would Mr Jones have me
' * O do but promife,' cries he, * that you will
r give yourfelf to Blifil.' * Name not,' anfwered
the detefted found. Be afTured I never will give
what is in my power to with-hold from him,' * Now
,' cnes he, * while you are fo perfeflly kind, go a
: farther, and add that I may hope.' — * Alas,' fays
Mr Jones, whither will you drive me ? what hope

I to beftow ? You know my father's intentions.'—
I know,' anfwered he, * your compliance with them
ot be compelled.' What,' fays (he, < muft be the
dful confequence of my difobedience ? My own
is my leaft concern. I cannot bear the thoughts of
g tlie caufe of my father's mifery.' * He is himfelf
:aufe,* cries Jones, * by exadling a power over yoa
:h Nature hath not given him. Think on the mifery
:h I am to fuffer, if 1 am to lofe you, and fee on
:h fide pity will turn the balance,' < Think of it!'
I (lie, * can you imagine I do not feel the ruin which
id bring on you, fhould I comply with your defire*
: is that thought which gives me resolution to bid you
rom me for ever, aad avoid your own defl:ru6lion.*
ir no deftruftioifcT;rie8 he, * but the lofs of Sophia ;
)u would fave mWrom the mo'ft bitter agonies, recal

cruel fentence. — Indeed, I can never part with you,
ed I cannot.'

: lovers now ftood fctflh;filent and trembling. Se-
eing unable to withdraw her hand from Jones, and
noft as unable to hold it; when the fcene, which,
:ve, forae of my readers will think had lafted lon^
fi was in teiTupted by one ol io ^vS^x^w\. -^x^axsix^-j
.2. Z

ajo Thi! H I S T O R Y of a Book VI.

that we (hall referve the relation of it for a dififerent
chapter.

CHAP. IX.

Seing of a much more tempefluotu kind than the forme f.

BEpore we proceed with what now happened to our
lovers, it may be prober to recount what had paft
in the hall during their tender interview.
. Soon after Jones had left Mr Weftern , in the manner
above mentioned, his fifter came to him ; and was pre-
fently informed of all that had paft between her brother
and Sophia relating to Blitil.

This behaviour in her niece the good lady con ft rued to
be an abfolute breach of the condition on which {he had
engaged to keep her love for Mr Jones a fecret. She
confidered herfelf, therefore, at full liberty to reveal all
Ihe knew to the fquire, which fhe immediately did in the
anoft explicit terms, and without any cerempny or preface.

The idea of a marriage between Jones and his daughter,
liad never once entered into the fquire's head, either in the
varmeft minutes of his affcdlion towards that young man,
or from fufpicion, or on any other occaiioa. He did in-
deed confider a parity of fortune and circumftances to be
phyiically as neceffary an ingredient in marriage, as differ-
ence of fexcs, or any other effential ; and had no more
apprehenfion of his daughter's falling in love with a poor
man, than with any animal of a different fpecies.

He became, therefore, like one thunder- ftruck at his
fitter's relation. He was, at firft, incapable of making
any anfwer, having been almoft deprived of his breath by
the* violence of the furprife. This, however, foon re-
turned, and, as is ufual in other cafes after an intermiilion,
with redoubled force and fury.

The lirft ule he made of the power of fpeech, after his
recovery from the fudden effects of his aftonift.ment, was
to difchargc a round volley of oaths, and imprecations.
After which he picceeded haftily to the apartment where
he exptdted to find the lovers, and murmured, or indeed
rather roared forth intentions pf revenge every ftep he

Ctap. >, FOUNDXING. f/i

As when two doi^cs, or two wood- pigeons, or as wheii
Strephon and PhylHs (for that comes neareft to the mark)
are retired into fome pleafant folitary grove, to enjoy
the delightful converfation of love ; that bafhful boy
who cannot fpeak in public, and is never a good compa-
nion to more than two at a time : here while every ob-
jt€t is fcrene, (hould hoarfe thunder burft fuddenly through
the fhattered clouds, and rumbling roll along the iky, tt>e
frightened, maid ftarts from the mofly bank or verdant
turf; the pale livery of death fuccecds the red regimentak
in which love had before dreft her cheeks ; fear (hakes her
whole frame, and her lover fearcc fupports her trembling,
tottering limbs :

Or as wh^n the two gentlcmeny ftrangers to the woiv-
derous wit of the place, are cracking a bottle together
at fome inn or tavein- at Salifbury, if the great doody
who a6ls the part of a madman, as well as fome of his
fetters on do that of a fool, fliould rattle his chains, and
dreadfully hum forth the grumbling catch along the gaU
lery ; the frighted ftrangers ftand aghuft, feared at the
horrid found, they feek fome place of fhelter from the
approaching danger, and if the well- barred windows did
admit their exit, would venture their necks to efcape,
the threatening fury now coming upon them :

So trembled poor Sophia, fo turned (he pale at the
noife of her fatlier, who in a voice raoft^ dreadful to hear,
came on fwearing, curfing, and vowing the deftrudllon of
Jones. To fay the truth, I belicye the youth himfelf
would, from fome prudent confiderations, have'preferred;
another place of abode at this time, had his terror on So-
phia's account given him, liberty to refledl a moment oa
what any other wife concerned himfelf, than as his love
made him partake whatever alFeclcd her.

And now the fquire having buril open the door, beheld
an obje6l which inftantly fufpended all his fury againii
Jones ; this was the ghallly appearance of Sophia, who
had fainted away in her lover's arms. This tragical, light
Mr Wcftern no fooner beheld, than all his rage forfook
him, he roared for help with his utmoft violence ; ran
firft to his daughter, then back to the door, calling for
water, and then back again to Sophia, never confidering
.ia whofc arms fhe then was, nor ^cicba^^ ^\^<^ \.^<^^^£!o

z %

ZSZ The H I S T O R Y of a Book VI.

•

ing that there was fuch a perfon in the world as Jones :
for, indeed, I believe, the prefent circumftances of his^
daugh ter were now the folc coiiiideration which employ-
ed his thoughts.

Mrs Weitern and a great number of fervants foon eamc*
to the aiTiilance of Sophia, with water, cordials, and e-
Tery thing nccefiary on thofe occaficns. ITiefe were ap-
plied vith fuch fucccfs, that Sophia in a very few mi-
nutes began to n cover, and all the fyinptoms- of life to
return. Upon which (he was piefently led off by her onm
n aid and Mrs Weftern ; nor did that gbod lady depart
without leaving fome wholeforne* adnQonitions with her
brother, on the drerdful effcdls of his paiBon, or, as fiie
pleafcd to call it, madnefs*

'ILe fquire, }>erhap8 did not underftand thi« good ad^
vice, as it was delivered in obfcure hints, fhrugs, aiid notes-
of admiration ; at leaft, if he did -underftand it, he pro-
fited very little by it : for no fooner waS he cured of his-
immediate fears for his daughter, then- he relapfed into
his former frenzy, which mull have produced an imme-
diate battle with Jones, had not Parfon Supple, who was;
a very ftrong man, been prefent, and by mere force re-
trained the fquire from a^s of hoftility.

The moment Sophia was departed, Jones advanced la
a very fuppliaat manner to Mr Weftem, whom the par^*
fon held in his arms, and begged Rtm to be pacified, for
that, while he continued in fuch a paffioii, it would be
impoffible to give him any fatisfaftion.

* I Willi have fatisfaftion o'thee,* anfwered the fquirCi.

* fo d'off thy cloaths, y^t urt half a man, and I'll lick thee- 1

* as well as waft ever licked in thy life.* He then be- 1
'{pattered the youth with abundance of that language-
vhich pafles between country-gentlemen who embrace i
oppofite fides of the queftlon j with frequent applica* !
tions to him to falute that part which is generally intro- j
duced into all controverlies that arife among the tc^CT J
orders of the Englifli gentry, at horfe-races, cock^match-

f'S es, and other public places. Allufions to this pairt are
likewife often made for the fake of the jeit. And h^pe^
J believe, the wit is generally mifunderftood. Iff re?tli'»
ty it lies in dcfiriflg auotUer to kifs your a- ■ ftr hiring

.jwfc bcTorc tlireatened to Vkk V\» v i»T \ \a:s^ ^k&tr^f^ i

: tcry accurately, tbat no one eret defirea you to kick that,
which belongs to kimfelf, nor offers to kifs this part ia
. another. . •

It may likewife feem furprifing, that in the many thou-

fand kind invitations of this fort, which every one v^^ho'

hath converfed'vsith country-gentlemen mud have heard,

no one, I believe, hath ever feen a fingle inftance v^rhere

- the delire has been complied w^ith. A great inftance of

. their want of politejiefs : for in tovim nothing can be

; more common than for the fineft gentleman to perform this

cereiriony every day to their fuperiors, without having that

fevour once requefted of them/'

To all fuch wit Jones very calmly anfwered, * Sir, this

* ufage may, perhaps, cancel every other obligation you
. < have confered on me ; but there is one you can never
. « cancel ; nor will I be provoked by your abufe, to lift
. •■ my hand againft the father of Sophia.-

At thefe words the fquire grew ftill more outrageous^
than before ; fo that the parfon begged Jones to retire,-
laying, * You behold, Sir, how he waxeth wroth at your

* abode here : therefore let me pray you not to tarry any
. * longer. His anger is too much kindled for you to com-

* mune with him at prefeiit. You had better,, thcrcforer
. * conclude your vifit, and refer what matters you have to-

*•* urge in your behalf, to fome other opportunity.'

Jones accepted this advice with thanks, arid immedi-
cStely departed.' The fquire now regained the liberty of
his hands,, and fo much temper as to exprefs fome fatif-
faction in the reftraint which had been laid upon him ; de-*
daring that he (hould certainly have beat his brains out ;-
and adding, < it would have vexed one confoundedly tO'
•^ have been hanged for fuch a rafcal.'

The parfon now began totriumpfrin the fuccefs of his-

peace-making endeavours, and proceeded to read a lee--

fure again ft anger, which might perhaps rather have*

:ttnied to raife than to quiet that paflion in fome hafty

-minds. This Ic^ure he enriched^ with many valuable^

quotations from the ancients j particularly from* Seneca,.

who hath, indeed,, fo wfiD handled this paHion,. that none-

but^ a very angry man can read him without great plea-^

l^^ibre and profit. The do£lor concluricd' this harangue*

iMtlvthe femou* ftury of Akx^ndiit ^tAQiIvo.'?* vN»3X^-««'V

2J4 . THc HI S TORY of a Book VL

find that entered in my common place under the title

Drunkennefs, I fhall not infert it here.

The fquire took no ^notice of this ftory, nor perhaps of

any thing he faid : for he interrupted him before he had

finifhed, by calling for a tankard of beer ; obferving

(which is perhaps as true as any obftrvations on this fever

of the mind ) that anger makes a man dry.

No fooner had the fquire fwallowed a large draught,

than he renewed the difcourfe on. Jones, and declared a
refolution of going the next morning early to acquaint
Mr All worthy. His friend would have diffuaded hnn
from this, from the mere motive of good nature ; but his
diffuafion had no other effe6l than to produce a large vol-
ley of oaths and curfes, which greatly fhocked the pions
cars of Supple ; but he did not dare to remonilrate againft
a privilege which the fquire claimed as a free-born , Englifh-
man.- To fay truth, the parfon fubmitted to pleak his
palate at the fquire's table, at the expence of fufFering now
and then this violence to his ears. He contented himfdf
ynth thinking he did not promote this evil pradlice, and
that the fquire would not fwear an oath the lefs if he not
entered within his gates. However, though he was not
guilty of ill manners, by rebuking a gentleman in his own
houfe, he paid him off obliquely m the pulpit ; which had
not, indeed, the good effeft of working a reformation in the
fquire hirnfelf ; yet it fo far operated on his confcience, that
he put the laws very feverely in execution againft others,
and the maglllrate was the only perfon in the parifh who
*€ould fwear with impunity.

C H A P. X.

In ivhich Mr JVeftern vtftts Mr Jilivorthy.

MR Allworthy was now retired from breakfaft with
hi* nephew, well falisfied with the report of ttrf
young gentleman's fuccefsful vilit to Sophia, (for he
greatly defirtd the match, more on account of the young
lady's character than of her riches),, when Mr Weftern ;
broke abruptly in upon them,' and without any ceremony^
began as follows. . .

/ There, you have done ^ Sit^t '^\ts:a ^£ woi^i trulyfl*^^

Chap. 10. P O U N D L I N 6. / ly^

* you have brought up your baftard to a fine purpofc ;

* not that I believe you have had any hand in it neither,

* that IS, as 4 man may fay, defignedly ; but there is a

* fine kettle of fifh made on't up at our houfe.* * What

* can be the matter, Mr Weftem V faid Allworthy. • O,

* matter enow of all co!ifcience ; my daughter has fal-

* kn in love witth your baftard, that's all ; but I won't

* ge her a hapenny^ not the twentieth part of a brafs

* varden. I always thought what would become o' breed-
^ ing up a baftard like a gentleman, and letting un

* come about to vok's houfes. Its well vor un I could

* not get at un, I'd a lick'd un, I'd a fpoil'd his cater-

* vauling, I'd a taught the fon of a whore to meddle

* with meat for his mafter. He fhan't ever have a mor-

* fel of meat of mine, or a varden to buy it : if (he will
:* ha un, one fmock fliall be her portion. I'll fooncr ge

* my eftate to the zinking fund, that it may be fent to

* Hannover to corrupt our nation with.' * I am heartily

* forry,' cries Allworthy. * Pox o' your forrow,' fays
Weftem, < it \vill do me abundance of good, when I have

* loft my only child, my poor Sophy, that was the joy

* of my heart, and all the hope and comfort of my ^ge ;

* but I am refolvtd I will turn her out o' doors ; ihe

* (hall beg and ftarve, and rot in the ftreets. Not one

* hapenny, not a hapenny ftiall fhe hae o' mine. The

* fon of a bitch was always good at finding a hare fitting ;

* and be rotted to'n, I little thought what pufs he was

* looking ^fter ; but it fliall lie the worft he ever vound

* in his life She fliall be no better than carrion ; tho^

* fliino' her is all he fliall ha', and zu you may tell un.*

* I am in amazement,' cries Allworthy, * at what you

* tell me, after what paiTed between my nephew and the

* young lady no longer ago than yefterday.' * Yes, Sir,*
anfwered Weftem, * it was after what pafled between

* your nephew and flie that the whole matter came out*
,*»Mr Blifil there was no foontr gone than the fon of a

* whore came lurching about the houfe. Little did I
^ think, when I ufed to love him for a fportfman, that he

* was all the while a poaching after my daughter.' * Why,

* truly,' fay Allworthy, * I could wifh you had not
given him fo many opportunities with her ; and yoi;
will do mc the juftice to agkuowkd^e^ ^Wx. W^ik^^-^jW^

•56 Th< HISTORY ofa* . BoofcVt.

ways bceir averfc to lus flaying fo much at yourhoufcr
though I own I had no fufpicion of this kind.' * Why,-
zounds !' cries Weftern, f who could h^ve thought it ?'
What the d^vil had fhe to do wi'n I He dfd not come*
there a courting to her : he came there a hunting with
m«.' * But was it poflible,* fays All worthy, * that
you fhould never difcem any fymptomflr of love betwecfi
them, when you have feen them fo often together ?*'
lievcr in my life, as I hope to be faved,' cries Weflern^
I never fo much as zeed him kifs her in' all my lifb;
and fo far from courting her, he ufed rather to be more'
filent when (he was in company than at any other time:'
and as for the girl, fhe was always Icfs civil to*n than'
to any young man that came to the honfe. As to that -
matter, I am not more eafy to be deceived than another;.
1 would not have you think I am, neighbour.' AH-'
worthy could fcarce refrain laughter at thia ; but he rc--
folved to do a violence to himfelf : for he perfedJy
well knew mankfnd, and had too much good breeding;
''and good nature to offend the fquire in his prefent cir- |
cumlUnces. He then afked Weftern, what he would' |
have him to do on this occafiom To which the other f
anfwered, that he would have him keep the rafcal away i
from his houfe, and that he would go and lock up the- I
•wench ; for be was refolved to make her marry Mr BIif5F 1
in fpite of her teeth. He then fliook Bh'fil by the hand,# a
and fwore he would have no other fon-in -law. FrefentJy '
after which' he took his 'leave, faying, his houfe was m^
♦ fuch diforder, that it was neceffary for him to make hafte"
home, to take care his daughter did not give him th^'
flip : ahd as for Jones, he fwore, if he caught him at hi9^
honfe, he would qualify him to run for the gelding's*
plate.

When All worthy and Blifil were again left together, ^
Jong filence enfued between them ; ait which interval tbe^
young gentleman filled up with fighs, which proceeded-
partly from difappointment, but more from hatred : for.
the fuccefs of Jones was much more grievous to him thaiM^
the.Iofs of Sophia. ^ .^,,

At length his uncle afked him what he was deteriQJne^iv
/to do, and he anfwered in the following words : * Afe»)

)

ICtap, 10. FOUNDLING. t^^

* when reafofl and pkffion point different ways ? I am a*
fraid it is too certain he will, in that delirama, always
follow the latter. Reafon diftates to me to quit all
thoughts of a woman who places her^ffedliou on ail-
other ; ray paiEon bids me hope (he may, in time,
change her inclinations in my favour. Here, howevet",
I conceive an objedlion may be raifed, which, if it could
not fully be anfwered, would totally deter me from aliy
farther purfuit. I mean the injuftice of endeavouring
to fupplant another in a heart of which he feems alrea-
dy in pofleflion ;. but the determined refolution of Mr
Weftern fhews, that in this cafe I (hall, by fo doing,
promote the happinefs of every party ; not only that of
the parent, who will thu& be preferved from the higheft
degree of mifery,. but of both the others, who muft be
undone by this match. The lady, I am fure, will be
undone in every fenfc j for, befides the lofs of moft part
of her own fortune, (he will be married not only to»
beggar, but the little fortune which her father canndt
with-hold from her, will be fquandered on that wench,
with whom I know he yet corivcrfea.— Nay, thatiaa
trifle : for I know him to be one of the worft men in
the world ; for had my dear uncle known what I haVc
hitlierto endeavoured ta conceal, he muft have lon^
fince abandoned fo profligate a wretch.' * How,' faid

Allworthy, • hath he done any thing worfe than I already^
know ? Tell me, I befeech you.' < No,' replied Blifil^
it is now paft, and perhaps he may have repented oF
it.' * I comnaand you on your duty,* faid Allworthy,.
to tell me what you mean.'* < You know. Sir,* faya

Blifil, * I never difobeyed you 5 but I am forry I men-
tioned it, fince it may now look like revenge, whereas^
I thank Heaven, no foch motive ever entered my heart ;
and if you oblige me to difcovcr it, I muft be his pe-
titioner to you for forgivencfs.' * I will have no con^
ditions,' anfwered Allworthy ; * I think I have fhevm
tendernefs enough towards him, and more perhaps than
you ought to thank rae for.' * More indeed, I fear,
than he deferved,' cries Blifil ;. * for in the very day oF
your utmoft danger, when myfclf and all the family
were in tears, he filled the houfe with riot and de-^
t f fcauchcry. He drank aad i^%x^ ^sA \Q(5Jwt^\ \ -^SiS^NgJviKa.

^5« The HISTORY ofa BbokVt

I gave him a gentle hint of the indecency of his a6:ion^» i
he fell into a violent paflion, fwore many oaths, called i
me a rafcal» and ftriick me.' * How !' cries All worthy, j
did he dare^to ftrike you ?' < I am fure,' cries Blifi), j
I have forgiven him that long ago. I wifh I could fo
eafily forget his ingratitude to the heft of benefaAortf;
and yet even that I hope you will forgive him, fince he
certainly muft have* been pofTefled with the devil : for
that very evening, as Mr Thwackum and myfelf were
taking the air in the fields, and exulting in the good
fymptoms which then firft began to difeover themfelves^
we unluckily faw him engaged with a wench in a man-
ner not fit to be mentioned. Mr Thwackum, with niore
boldnefs than prildence, advance to rebuke him, when
(I am forry to fay it) he fell upon the worthy man, and -^
beat him fo outragecufly, that I wifh he may have yet 4
recovered the bruifes. Nor was I without my (hare of j
the eflFefts of his malice, while I endeavoured t© proteft |
my tutor : but that I have long forgiven ; nay, I pre- '^
vailed, with Mr Thwackum to forgive him too, and not
to inform you of a fecret which I feared might be fatal
to him. And now. Sir, fince I have unadvisedly drop-
ped a hint of this matter, and your commands have ob-
liged me to difeover the whole, let me intercede vnth
you for him.* • O child,' faid Allworthy, * I know not
whether I (hould blame or applaud your goodnefs In
concealing fuch villainy a moment : but where is Mr
Thwackum ? Not that I want any confirmation of wh«t
you fay ; but I will examine all the evidence of thii
matter, to juftify to the world the example I am refol-
ved to make of fuch a monfter.'
Thwackum was now fent for, and prefently appeared*
He corroborated every circumftance which the other had '
depofed ; nay, he produced the record upon his breaflf
where the hand- writing of M» Jones remained very legil^
in black and blue. He concluded with declaring to Mr
Allworthy, thM he fliouldhave long fince informed him oC
this matter, had not Mr Blifil, by the raoft earneft intcr*!^
pofitions, prevented him. * He is,' fays he, *■ an excclleot-
< youth; though fuch forgivenefs of enemies is c^n^g!
^- the matter too far.* 'fc^v bi

tJhap. fx. F O U N DX IN G. z$f

the parfon, and to prevent the difcovery at that time ; for
vhich he had many reafons. He knew that the minds
of men are apt to be foftened and relaxed from their ufuai
feverity by licknefs. Befides, heimaginedthat if the ttory
was told when the fa6l was fo recent, and the phyfician
about the houfe who might have unravelled the real truth,
fee (hould never be able to give it the malicious turn which
he intended. Again, he relolved to hoard up this bufmcfs,
till the indifcretion of Jones (hould afford him fome addi-
tional complaints ; for he thought the joint weight of
mJvpy fa<^s falling upon him together, would be the moft
likely to crulh him ; and he watched therefore fome fuch
opportunity as that with which fortune had now kindly
prcfented him. Laftly, by prevailing with Thwackum to
conceal the matter for a time, he knew he (hould confirm
an opinion of his friendihip to Jones, waich he had greatly
laboured to eflabllfh in Mr AUworthy*

C H A P. XI.

^'Jhort chapter; hut <which contains /undent matters tit
affsCt the good-natured reader.

IT was Mr Allworthy's cuftom never to puni(h any one,
not even to turn away a fervant in a pailion. He re-
folved therefore to delay paffing fentence on Jones till the
afternoon. *

The poor young man attended at dinner as ufual ;
but his heart was top much loaded to fufFer him to eatl
His grief too was a good deal aggravated by the unkind
Jooks of Mr Allwortliy ; whence he concluded that Weft-
em had difcovered the whole afF^r between him and
.8ophia|H)ut as to Mr BlifiPs ftory, he had not the leail
Apprehenfion : for of much the greater part he was en-
,tirely innocent; and for the reliduc, as he had forgiven
and forgotten it himfelf, fo he fufpedled no remembrance
4m the other ^de. When dinner was over, and the fer*
^-t^nts dij)5«*eil, Mr Allworthy began to harangue. He
.fiet ford){ '\i\ a long fpeech, the many iniquities of which
Jonei had been guilty, particularly thofe v/hich this day

* 'brought to light ; and condM^jtOL, V^ \i^\\v^\icsw^

269 Tkc H I S T O R Y of * Book Vt \

That unlefs he could clear himfelf of the charge, he was *
reiblved to banifh him his iight for ever. "

- Many difadvantages attended poor Jones in making
his defence ^ nay, indeed, he hardly knew his accufation :
for as Mr All worthy, in recounting the drunkennefs, ^c.
while he lay ill, out of naodefty funk every thing that
related particularly to himfelf, which indeed princtpally
conftituted the crime, Jones could not deny the charge :
his heart was, belides, alraoft broken already ; and hia
fpirits were fo funk, that he coi^ld fay nothing for him- \
felf, but acknowledged the whole, and, like a criminal in ♦
defpair, threw himfelf upon mercy ; concluding. That
though he muft own himfelf guilty of many follies and
inadvertencies, he hoped he had done nothing to deferve
what would be to him the greateft punifhment in the
world. *

Allworthy anfwered, That he had forgiven him toa
often already, in compaffion to his youth, and in hope?
of his amendment : that he now found he was an aban-
doned reprobate, and fuch as it would be criminal in any
one to fupport and encourage. * Nay,' faid Mr Allwor-
diy to him, * your'audacfous attempt to fteal away th^

* young lady, call upon me to juflify my own charafter % j

* in punifliing you. The world, who have already cen-
« fured the regard I have fhewn for you, may think, with

* fome colour at leail of juftice, that I connive at fo bafc

< and barbarous an a6lion ; an aftlon of which you muft

* have known my abhorrence; and which, hafll you an^ '

< concern for my eafe and honour, as' well as for mj

* friendfhip, you would never have thought of underta*

* king. Fy upon it, young man ! indeed there is- fcarcft

* any puniftiment equal to your crimes, and I' can fcarcc

* think myfelf juflifiable in what I am now gomg to hci^'^j

* flow on you. However, as I have educatc^JPnj ^?^*^|S

* a child of my own, I will not turn you nakectinto t^

* world. When you open this paper, therefort, J<»

* will find fomething which may enable yojj, with lul

* try, to get an honeil: livelihood; but itjjK ''^'

* to worfe purpofes, I (hall not think myi(

* fupply you farther, being refolvcd, from

* ward, to converfe i\o more with you on any "
1 cannot avoid faying, lYiCx^ vs xvo ^^xX <£

Chap. 12. FOUNDLING. 261

* which I refent more than your ill treatment of that good
"* young man, (meaning Blifil, who hath behaved with
« lb much tcnderntfs and honour towards you.'
. Thefe laft words were a dofe almofl too bitter to be
fwallowed. A flood of tears now guihed from the eyes
of Jones, and every faculty of fpeech and motion feemed
to have deferted him. It wa« fome time before he was
able to obey All worthy's peremptory commands of de-
parting ; which he at length did, having firfl kifled his
hands, with a paflion difficult to be affected, and as dif-
ficult to be defcribed.

The reader muft be very weak, if, when he confiders ,
the light in which Jones then appeared to Mr AUworthy,
he fliould blame the rigour of his fentence : and yet all
the neigl^bourhood, either from this weaknefs, or from
fome worfe motive, condemned this juftice and fe verity
as the higheft cruelty. Nay, the very perfons who had
before cenfured the good man for the kindnefs and ten-
dernefs (hewn to a bailard, (his own, according to the
general opinion), now cried out as loudly againft turning
his own child out of doors. The women efpecially -we^L
unanimous in taking the part of Jones, and raifed moflP^
ftories on. the occafion than I have room, in this chapter,
to fet down.

One thing muft not be omitted, that in their cenfures
on this occafion, none ever mentioned the fum contained in
the paper which AUworthy gave Jones, which -^s no
lefs.than five hundred pounds ; but all agreed that he was
fent away pennylefs, and fomt faid, naked from the Koufe
p£ his inhuman father. ' ^

C H A R XXL

•-

Containirjg love-letters, 8cc,

1 I TOnes was commanded to lea V^ the houfe immediately,
^ J and told, that his cloaths and every thing elfe fliould
*e fcnt to him whitherfoever he fhould order them.
He accordingly fet out, and vi^^d above a mile, not
garding, and indeed fcarce kn^Jpfg whither he went.
^t length a little brook obllruding his paffage, he threw
*Bafelfdown by the fide of if, uq\ q,q AjikW V^v^^ ^:^*
Vol. I. ^ ^

^^ Tbc HISTORY of a Bo^kVf..^

teringy with fome little indignation, * Sure my father w2I
* not deny me this place to reft in,' ■;

Here he presently fell into the moft violent agonies^
tearing his hair from his head, and ufing moft other a6li-
ons which generally accompany fits of madnefs, rage, and
defpair.

When he had, in this manner, vented the firft emotions
of paffion, he began to come a little to himftlf. His grief
now took another turn, and dilcharged itfelf in a gentler
way, till he became at laft cool enough to reafon with his
paflion, and to confider what fteps were proper to be taken,
in his deplorable condition.

And now the great doubt waa, how to«a6l with regard
to Sophia. The thoughts, of leaving her almoft rent his
heart afunder ; but the confideration of reducing her to
ruin and beggary ftill racked him, if poflible, more ; an4
if the violent deiire of poflefiing her perfon could have in«t -
duced him to liften one moment to this alternative, ftill * 1
Jie was by no means certain of her refolution to indulge
bis wifhes at fo high an expence. The refentment of Mr
V ^^Allworthy, and the injury he muft do his quiet, argue4
^jpongly againft his latter; and laftly, the apparent imr^^ '
pofG'bility of his fuccefs, ev^n if he would facrihce all thefic;
considerations to it, came to his aftiftance ; and thus, ho- \
Bour at laft, backed with defpair, with gratitude to his • j
Ipenefadlor, and with real love to his miftreis, got the better
of burning dellre, and he refblved rather to quit Sophia,
than to purfue her to her ruin.

It is difficult for any Who have not felt, to conceive the :
glowing warmth which filled his breaft on tl^e firft con-v : i
templation of this vidlory over his paffion. Pride flattered ; !
him fo agreeably, that his mind perhaps enjoyed perfc^l J
•^ happinels : but this was only momentary ; Sophig foon, -

returned to his imagination, and allayed the joy of hif,^ .
triumph with no lets bitter pangs than a good naturcd, ^
general muft feel, when -he furveys the bleeding heaps fA ;■
the price of whofe blood he hath purchafed his laurel^ 5^.;.' .,
for thoufands of tender ideas lay murdered before our, J
conqueror. *j

Being refolved, hoi^Fcver, to purfue the pajths of thi% .^

jglant Honour, as the gigantic poet Lee calls it, he |||r^\^

liiii r<i7n I J] rrf tij write a f?LT^>Nt\V\t\x^x \a ^^^Vii^v i|!|^l'' '

Chap. 12. FOUNDLING. 2(5j

Cordingly proceeded to^ a houfe not far ofF, where, "being
furnifhed with proper materials, he wrote as follows :

Madam,
^ "T TIT 7* HEN you refle6l on the fituation in which I write,

• VV I am fure your good nature will pardon any in-

* conliftency or abfurdity which my letter contains ; for

• every thing here flows from a heart fo full, that no lan-

* guage can cxprefs its diflates.

* I have refolved, Madam, to obey your commands,

* in flying for ever from your dear, your lovely fight.

* Cruel indeed thofe commands are ; but it is a cruelty

• which proceeds from Fortune, not from my Sophia,

• Fortune hath made it neceflary, neceffary to your pre-

• fcrvation, to forget there ever was fuch a wretch as I am.

* Believe me, Iwould not hint all my fufFerings to you,
« if I imagined they could efcape your ears. I know the

• goodnefs and tendernefs of your heart, and would avoid
■ giving you any of thofe pains which you always feel

• lor the miferable. O let nothing, which you fhall hear
^ of my hard fortune, caufe a moment's concern ; for af-

' ter the lofs of you, every thing is to me a trifle. ^

* O my Sophia ! it is hard to leave you : it is harder ftill

* to defire you to forget me ; yet the fincereft love obliges
' me to both. Pardon my conceiving that any remembrance

• of me can give you difquiet ; but if I am fo glorioufly

* wretched, lacrifice me every way to your relief. Think

* I never loved you ; or think truely how little I deferve
' you ; and learn to fcorn me ibr a prefumption which
i^ can never be too feverely punifhed. 1 am unable to

* fay more— may guardian angels protedl you for ever.*

He was now fearching his pockets for his wax, but^
found none, nor indeed any thing elfe therein ; for, in
truth, he had, in his frantic difpofition, tofled every
think 'from him, and aniong the reft his pocket-book,
which he had received from Mr All worthy, which he
had never opened, and which now firft occurred to hi«
memory.

The houfe fupplied him with a wafer for his prefent
jp'urpofe, with which having fealed his letter, he return-
!cd haftily towards the brook f\dc, \w oit^'cx \» ^<5ax^ ^ss?.

264 Tke H I S T O R Y of a Book VI, Jj

the things which he had there loft. In his way lie met his
old fritnd Black George, who heartily condoled with hiiri . \
on his misfortune : for this had already -reached his cars* {
and indeed thofe of all the neighbourhood.-

Jones acquainted the gamekeeper with his lofs, andh«
as readily went back with him to the brook, where they
fearched every tuft of grafs in the meadow, as well where
Jones had not been, as where he had been ; but all to no
piirpofc, for tliey found nothing : for, indeed, though the
things were then in the" meadow, they omitted to fearch
the only place where they were deposited, to wit, in th«
fcckets of the faid George; for he had juft before found
them, and, being luckily apprifed of their value, had Very
carefully put tlitm up for his own ufe.

The ^^^aniekeeper having exerted as much diligence m
qr.til of the Icll goods, as if he had hoped to find them,
dcfired Mr Jones to recoHefl if he had been in no other
place ; * For fure,' faid he, * if you had loft them here fo

* lately, the things muft have been htre ft ill ; for this i»
< a very unlikely place. for any one to pafs by: and in-
deed it was by great accident that he himfelf had pafied
id^t'ough that field, in order to lay wires for hares with
which he was to fupply a. poulterer at Bath the next
morning. ■»

Jones now gave over all hopes of recovering his lofsf
and almoft all thoughts concerning it ; and turning to ti
Black George, aiked him earneftly, if he would do him ^
the greatcft favour in the world. - |

George anfwered with fome hefitation, * Sir^ you know

* you may command me whatever is in my power, and i

* lieartily wifti it was in my power to do you a»y fervice.^

la fa<S, the queftion ftaggercd him ; for he had, by fell-
iQg game ftmafled a pretty good fum of money in Mr
Weftern's fervice, and was afraid that Jones wanted to
borrow fome fmall matter of him ; but he was prefently
relieved from his anxiety, by being defired to convey !|

' letter to Sophia which with great pleafure he promifed tO
do. And, indeed, I believe there are few favours whkh-
he would not gladly have conferred on Mr Jones i for h€
bore as much gratitude towards him as he could, and waft
as honed as men who love money better than any other r

thing in the univerfe, geu^r^\\>f ^xt. v^

€5iap. II F O ir N D L I N a %6i

Mrs Honour was agreed by both to be the proper means
hy which this letter (hould pafs ta Sophiai They then
feparated ; the gamekeeper returned home to Mr Weft-
ern's, and Jones walked to an ale-houfe, at half a mile'*

[ • diftance, to wait for his meflenger's return;

• George no fooner came home to his mafter^s houfe, thair

[ lie met with Mrs Honour; to whomj' having firft founded .

^ Eer with a few previous queftions, he delivered the letter
for her miftrefs, and received at the fame time another

[» from her for Mr Jones ; which Honour told him fhe had
carried all that day in her bofom, and began to defpair of

f finding any means of delivering it.
The gamekeeper returned haftily and joyfully to Jones»
who having received Sophia's letter from him, inftantly^
withdrew, and eagerly breaking it open, read as follows i

[ ♦ T T is impofllble to exprefs what I have felt fince I faw^
^ A yoti. Your fubmitting, on my account, to fuch-^

I •* cruel infults from my father, lays me under an obliga*
^ tion I (hall ever own. As you know his temper, I beg
* you will, for my fake, avoid him. I wiih 1 had an]r

[ ^ comfort to fend you ; but believe this that nothing buc:

[ •' the laft violence fhall ever give my hand or heart whercr

I •• you would be. forry to feeiihem beftbwed.'

Jones read this letter a hundred times over, and kifledE*
i If. a hundred times as often. His paifion now brought alt
fender d^fires back intp his mind. He repented that he
I had writ to Sophia in the manner we have feen above ;;.
But he repented more that he had made ufe of the inter-
val of his mefTengcr's abfertce to write and difpatch a leller'
to Mr All worthy, in which he had faithfully pvomlted and^
bound himfclftoquit all thoughts of his loVe; However,^
when his cool refkdtlons retiirnedi he plainly perceived'
tiiat his cafe was neitlier mended nor akefed by Sophia V-
billet, unlef* to give him fome little gllmpfe of hope ftx>m.-
her.conftancy, or fome favanrable accident hereafter. He^
therefore refumed his rcfolutioji, and taking leave of Black
George, fct forward to a town about five miles diflant,^
whether he had defired Mr AUworthy, unlefs he pleafe<it
to revoke his fentence, to Csad Vv\% \.\\\x\^ -^IxKxXicaQiiw^

266 The HISTORY of a BookYK

CHAP. XIIL

7h€ hchavtour of Sophia on the prefent occajion ; nuhieh none of
her fix IX} ill hlameyixil^ are capable of behaving in the fame
via finer. And the difiujfion of a knotty point in the court
of confidence,

SOphia had pafTed thelafl twenty-four hours in no vc*^
ry defirable manner. During a large part of then*
Ihe had been entertained by her aunt with Icdiures of pru-
dence, recommending to her the example of the polite
v;orid, where love (io tlie good lady faid) is at prefent
entirely laughed at, and where women confider matrirao- ^
ny, as men do olnces, of public truil, only as the meana
of making their fortvines, and of advancing themfclves-
in the world. In commenting on whibh text Mrs Weft-
crn had difplayed her eloquence during feveral hours.

Thefe fagacious Itftures, though little fuited either to
the tafle or inclination of Sophia, were, however, lefs.'
irkfome to her than her own thouglits, that formed the
entertainment of the night, during which flie never once
clofcd fier eyes.

Bat though flie could neither (Ictp nor reft in her bed;,
yet, having no avocation from it, (he was found there by
her fatlier at his return from All worthy's, which \n^s not
till pafl- ten o'clock in the morning. He went diredly
up to her apartment, opened tlie door, and feeing fbe
WHS not up, — cried — * Oh I you are fafe then, and 1 am
* vtrolvcd to keep ycu fo.* He then locked the door, anc}
delivered the key tO Honour, having firfl given her the
firiCut'l charge, vvith greiit promifes of rewards for her
fidelity, and mofl dreacP'nl menaces of punifhmcnt, in cafe
fbe (hi>uld 1 ttr.iy her truf:. •

H(inji!i's (ideis were, ntt to fufler her miilrefs to
eonie ct '-H cr room without the authority of the fquire
Jijiv !ll*^, J .V. to admit none to her but him and her avnt ;
Lrt fio V.MS I cviV.f to attend her with whatever Sophia
pLiifcJ, eruv pt only ptJi, ink, and paper, of which fhc
was fori ;v!'.j..n t!ie ufe.

TI^L- f'Utire (inlered his dnnjrhter to drefs herfelf, and
atsaid him .-.t elinner, v/lji'li (le obeyed ; and having fat
the LifLuil time J WuS c^^ain cov.OLvicicd\.Q W ^^^vCon.

Chap. 13. FOUNDLING. 267

la the evening the gaoler Honour brought her the let-
ter which (he received from the gamekeeper. Sophia
read it very attentively twice or thrice over, and then
threw herfelf upon the bed, and burft intb a flood of tears,
Mrs Honour exprefled great aftonifhment at this behavi-
0111* in her miftrefs, nor could fhe forbear very eagerly
begging to know the caufe of this paflion. Sophia made
her no anfwer for fomc time, and then flarting fuddenly
up^ caught her maid by the hand, and cried, * O Ho-

* nour 1 I am undone.' * Marry forbid,' cries Honour,

* I wifh the letter had been burnt before I had brought it

* to your La'fhip. I am fure I thought it would have

* comforted your La'fhip, or I would nave feen It at the

* devil before I would have touched it/ * Honour,' faya
-Sophia, * you are a good girl, and it is in vain to at-

* tempt concealing longer my weaknefs from you : I havd

* thrown away my heart on a man wh6 hath forfaken me.'

* And is Mr Jones,' anfwered the maid, * fuch a perfidy

* man ?' * He has taken his leave of me,' fays Sophia,

* for ever in that letter. Nay, he hath dcfired me to

* forget him. Could he have defired that if he had loved

* me ? could he have borne fuch a thought ? could he have

* written fuch a word ?' * No certainly, Ma'am,' cries
Honour; * and to be fure, if the bcft man in England
< was to defire me to forget him, Vd take him at his

* word. Marry come up! I am fure your La'fhip hath

* done him too much lionour ever to think on him. A

* young lady who may take her choice of all the young

* men in the country. And to be fure, if I may be fo

* prcfumptious as to offer my poor -opiiiion, there h

* young Mr Bilfil, who befides that he is come of hoaeft

* parents, and will be one of the greateft fquires all hcrea-

* bouts, he is to be fure, in my poor opinion, a more hand-

* fomer and a more politer man by half; and befides, ho
' « is a youn;^ gentleman of a fobcr charader, and who

* may dtfy any of the neighbours to fay black is his eye ;

* he follows no dirty trollops, nor can any baftards be
« laid at his door. Forget hi.r., indeed ! I thank Hea-

* Vvii I myfdf am not fo niiich at my lell prayers as to

* futrcr ai:y man to bid m.e forget him tvvice. If thebeft
« he that wears a head was for to go for to offer for to fay

* fuch an afironting word to m^i V \NQvi\!^ 'wcm^x ^^^Nicssw

tfift The H I S T O R Y of a Book Vt

* my company afterwards, if there \ra« another young

* man in the kingdom. And as I was faying, to be furc
*. there is young Mr Blifi]' * Name not his detcftecf

* name,' cries Sophia. * Nay, Ma'aAi,* fays Honour, * if"

* your La'fhip doth not Hke him, there be more jolly

* handfome young men that would court your La'ihip^

* if they iiad but the leaft encouragement. I don't be-

* lieve there is arrow young gentleman in this county, or

* in the next to ft, that if your La'fhip was but to look

* as if you had a mind to him, would not come about to

* make his offers direftly.' * What a wretch doft thou

* imagine me,' cries Sophia, * by affronting my ears with

* fuch ftuff^! I deteft all mankind.' * Nay, to be furc,.

* Ma'am,' anfwered Honour, * your La'fhip hath had e-

* nough to give you a furfeit of them. To be ufed ill by

* fuch a poor beggarly baftardly fellow !' * Hold your

* blafphemous tongue,' cries Sophia, * how dare you:

* mention his name with difrefped before me ? He ufe me;

* ill ! no ; his poor bleeding heart fuffered more when he*

* writ the cruel words than mine from, reading themr.

* O ! he is all heroic virtue and angelic goodnefs. I am-
' afhamed of the weaknefs of my own pafllon, for blam-

* ing what I ought to admire.— —O Honour ! it'
< is my good only which he confults : to my intereft he
^ facrifices both himfelf and me.- The apprehenlion of

* ruining me hath driven him t9 defpair.' * I am very

* glad,' fays Honour, * to hear your La'fhip takes that

* into your confideration : for to be fure it moft be no-'

* thing lefs than ruin to give your mind to one that is-

* turned out of doors, and is not worth a farthing in the*

* world.* • Turned out of doors !' cries Sophia haftily,.

* how ! what doft thou mean ?' * Why, to be fure,

* Ma'am, my matter no fooner told Squire Allworthy a—
*_bout Mr Jones having offered to make love to your*

* La'fhip, than the fquire ftripped him flark-naked, and*
« turned him out of doors,' < Ha !' fays Sophia, < I have

* been the cnrfed, wretched caufe of his deftruftion !—

* Turned naked out of doors! Here,, Honour, . take all

* the money I have"; take the rings from my fingers*—
' Here my watch ; carry him all. Go, find him imme-^

* tfiateJy.' * For Heaven's (ake, Ma'am,' anfwered Mr§^
. '^ignour^ * do but coafidcrj \£ m^ Yoa.^ ^wi^^xaa&. an^'

Chap. 13. FOUNDLING. 269

* of thefe things I ftiould be made to anfwer for them ;

* therefore let me beg your La'fhip not to part with your

* watch* and jewels. Befides, the money, I think, is e-

* nough of all confcience ; and as for that, my matter

* can never know any thmg of the matter.' * Here then,'
cries Sophia, * take every farthing I am worth ; find hira

* out immediately, and give it hira. Go, go, lofe not a

* moment.*

Mrs Honour departed, according to orders, and find-
ing Black George below ftairs, delivered him the puvfe,
which contained fixteen guineas, being indeed the whole
ftock of Sophia ; for though her father was very liberal
to her, (he was much too generous herfclf to be rich.

Black George having received the purfe, fet forward
towards the alchoufe ; but in the way a thought occurred
to him, whether he fhould not detain this money likewife.
His confcience, however, immediately ftarted at this fug-
gcftion, and began to upbraid him with ingratitude to hia
benefadlor. To this his avarice anfwcred. That his con-
fcience /hould have confidered the matter before when he
deprived poor Jones of his 500I. That having quietly ac-
quiefced in what was of fo much greater importance, it was
abfurd, if not' downright hypocrify, to afFo6l any qualms
at this trifle. In return to v/hich, confcience, like a good
lawyer, attempted to dlilinguifh between an abfolute breach
of truil, as here where the goods were delivered, and a
bare concealment of what was found, as in the former
cafe. Avarice prefently treated this with ridicule, cal-
led it a diftin6lion without a difi*erence, and abfolutely in-
filled, that when once all pretenfions of honour and vir-
tue were given up in any one inftance, that there was no
precedent for refortingto them upon afecond occafion. In
fiiort, poor confcience had certainly been defeated in the
argument, had not fear fttpt in to her afliftance, and very
ftrenuoufly urged, that the real diftindlion between the
two adlions did not lie in the different degrees of honour^
but of fafety : for that th^fecreting the 500I was a mat-
ter of very little hazard, whereas the detaining the fixteen
.guineas was liable to the utmoft danger of dilcovery.

By this friendly aid of fear, confcience obtained a com-
plete vidory in the mind of Black Geerge, and, after mak*

f-q

270 TI1C HlSTORYof a BookVll

ing him a few compliments on 'his honefty, forced him t#
deiifer the money to Jones.

CHAP. XIV.

AJhirt chapter^ containing ajh^t dialogue between Squir§
Wejlern and his Jifter.

MRS Weftcrn had been engaged abroad all that day.
The fquire met her at her return home, and when
fhe inquired after Sophia, he acquainted her, that he Jiad
fecured heij fafe enough. * She is locked up in chamber/
cries he, ' and Honour keeps the key.' As his looks
were full of prodigious wifdom and fas;acity when lie gave
his filler this information, it is probable he expe£led much
applaufe from her for what he had done ; but how was ht
dlfappointed !. when, with a moft difdainful afpe^, fh^
cried, * Sure, brother, .you arc the weakeft of all men.
Why will you not confide in me for the management ol
my niece ? why will you interpofe ? You have now un*
done all that I have b^en fpending my breath in order td'
bring about. While I have been endeavouring to fill her
mind with maxims of prudence, you have been provoking
her to rejeft them. Englifti women, brother, I thank Hea« .
ven, are no flaves. We are not to be- locked up like the '
Spauifh and Italian wives. We have as good a right to *
liberty as yourfclves. We at e to be convmccd by reafon,
and pcrfuafion only, and not governed by force. I hav^
feen the World, brother, and know what arguments to ,
make ufe of : and \i your folly had not prevented me,,
(hould have prevailed with her to form her conduct by
thofe rules of prudence and difcretion which I formerly*
taught her.' * To be fure,^ faid the fquire, * I am al*
ways in the wrong.' * Brother,' anfwered the lady, * yoii'
are not in the wrong, unlefe when you meddJe with mat-
ters beyond your knowledge. You muft agree that I
have feen moft of the world ; and happy had it been for»
my niece if flie had not been taken from under my care*
It is by living at home with you-that fhe hath learnt ro-v
mantic notions of love and nonfenfe.' * You don't ma^
^ ginCf I hope,' cries the {ic^viire, * that I hav€ taught her
• aajr /iich things.* • Yovxt i^wox^uc^^Xxtoxiasxi \!tx\mi!ed

Chap. 14. FOUNDLING.

"c, * as the great Milton fays, almoft fubdues my pa-

tiencc *.' * D — n Milton/ anfwcred the fqulrei * if he

- had -the impudence to iay fo to my face, I'd lend him a

* doufe, thof he was never fo great a man. Patience ! an

* you come to that, filler, 1 have more occafion of patience,
I * to^.he ufed like an ov^^r-grown fchool boy, as 1 am by
^ * you. " Do you think no one hath any underftanding un-
r * lefs he hath been about a court ? Pox I the world is come
L * to a fine pafs indeed, if we are all fools except a parcel

of roundheads and Hannover rats. Pox ! I hope the

times are a coming that we (hall make fools of them,

and every man (hall enjoy his own : that's all, filler, and

I * every man (hall enjoy his owe. I Rope to zee it, filter,

I • before the Hannover rats have eat up all our corn, and

\ • left us nothing but turnips to feed upon.* * I protefl,

I* brother,' cries (he, * you are now got beyond my un-
* derllancjing. Your jargon of turnips and Hannover rats
* is to me perfedly unintelligible.' * I believe,* cries he,
* you don't care to hear o'em : but the country interefb
^" • may fucceed one day or other, for all that.' * I wi(h,*
anfwered the lady, * you would think a little of your
'* daughter's intereft ; for, believe me, fhe is in greater

* danger than the nation.' * Juil now,' faid he, * you
L' * chid me for thinking on her, and would ha' her left to

you.' * And if you will promife to interpofe no mpre,*
ifwered (he, * I will, out of my regard to my niece, un-
dertake the charge.' * Well, do then, faid the fquire,
for you know I always agreed, that women arc proper-
eft to manage women.'

Mrs Weftern then departed, muttering fomething with
an air of difdain, cenccrning women and the management
of the nation. She immediately repaired to Sophia's a-
partment, who was now after a day's confiement releafed
again from her captivity.

' * The reader, may, perhaps, fubdue his own patience, if
he fearches for this m Milton.

The End of the First VoLua^r*

?^;r?ii-